Sophie hugged her parents and her little sister tightly, fighting the rouge tears that tried to slip out of her eyes. They had already said their goodbyes, and Sophie was about to board the taxi that would take her to a new life, a new world, a new beginning.

         As her family pulled out of their tight embrace, Sophie stared at her house. It was her sanctuary, everything she had ever known. It was small, with some chipped paint here and there, a couple of weeds growing maniacally throughout the garden, and a crooked Welcome doormat. She stared at the pot that their spare house key was under, the little garden that their neighbor, Mr. Forkle had helped them plant, claiming that, "For this world to keep growing we must do our part too."

       Sophie sighed, tucking the precious memories of her soon to be old life back into her brain.
       "Well I guess I better get going, I don't want to be late fo-," Sophie was cut off by her sister tackling her with another hug. Amy's green eyes met Sophie's brown ones, and blond waves cascaded down from Sophie's head to intertwine with Amy's brown locks.

      "Sophie I-I know I haven't been the nicest to you or anything but, but I'll really miss you, I really will."

      Sophie responded by gripping her sister tighter.
     She heard the honk of a car horn, and Amy let her go, wiping her nose. Sophie could see the driver begin to impatiently tap his fingers along the dashboard, and she hurried towards the car. She had already shipped most of her belongings to where she would be going, but she kept a small bag of special things with her.

    Sophie slung her purple backpack over her shoulder. It contained her favorite stuffed animal, a blue elephant in a Hawaiian t-shirt names Ella, a scrapbook from when she was young, and her iPod and earbuds, along with a few other random items and a book to keep her busy.

     She hugged her family quickly for one last time, then ran into the car. Sophie didn't speak. She wanted to be strong for her parents and sister, and she knew if she opened her mouth only blubbering sobs would come out.

    Her family yelled goodbyes, told her to be safe, and ensured her that they loved her with melancholy but energetic waves. Sophie could see tears in her parent's eyes, and Amy kept wiping her eyes.

    Excitement and sadness warred inside Sophie, and a single tear escaped her eye as she smiled.

     As the taxi pulled away, Sophie waved goodbye to her old life and hello to her new one.