The sun wasn't even up yet, but I sure was.

3:00 am

The beeping of my alarm blared through my room loudly as I shot up from laying down, back straight as a board with hair falling clumsily into my face having fought its way out of my ponytail. Swinging my legs to the side I tapped my alarm clock, turning off the beeping to keep the quiet peace of early morning as I moved towards the bathroom with more energy than normal.

The warm water ran through my light hair which had been darkened by the wetness and down my back, rinsing away the soap. I knew I had to work quick and quietly to make it out of the house this morning without getting caught so I got out of the shower after only a few minutes, reaching for my towel to dry myself off. I tied my hair back in a slick bun, feeling more refreshed than before I had cleaned up and throwing on some casual clothes, a white shirt and some jeans.

Rushing back into my room stealthily past my parents room I had threw the last few necessities into my duffle back before zipping it closed and throwing it over my shoulder. I spared a simple glance towards the light pink room of my childhood, filled with old dolls that had never been played with and makeup that had never been worn before turning towards my future, excitement for what was to come coursing through my veins.

Walking with soft steps down the stairs in hopes of not waking anyone up at this unusually early hour I had made it to the doorway only to hear a soft humming from the kitchen, human not mechanic I noted. The light was on, shining too brightly for the early hour, prompting me to investigate further, curiosity leading me.

My duffle bag fell off my shoulder and into my hand where I gently set it by the door. I stepped into the kitchen carefully, a gentle smiling falling onto my face at the sight before me. My mother stood at the stove, a look of relaxed focus on her face as she hummed softly while cooking.

"Oh good, you're up" she turned around happily when she noticed me, her eyes crinkling at the sides like they used to when I was younger, before they had hardened into an almost constant frown.

When I was younger, perhaps too young to remember clearly she was always happy and smiling with her friends and me, that was until she stopped seeing her friends and she had quit her job, always telling me that everything happened for a reason.

"I made your favourite, pancakes!" She cheered quietly with a brightness in her eyes that warmed my heart and made me want to stay, but I knew I couldn't, not anymore. She spoke in a quiet voice in an attempt to avoid waking up my father who was still sleeping upstairs, unaware of what he would learn when he wakes up.

She motioned for me to sit at the table, which I did without hesitation, cherishing the moments with just me and her, the moments where we could both be ourselves and not pretend. She brought over a plate with a small stack of chocolate chip pancakes on it, setting it in front of me with a gentle squeeze to my shoulder, knowing that I wasn't huge on physical touch.

"Thanks, mom" I offered her a smile which I hoped had displayed how much I really appreciated her and what she has done for me all of my life.

"I'm so proud of you for following your dreams" she began, sitting across from me at her seat at the table, leaving a few spots empty where my father, brother and sister in law would normally sit when we had a full family dinner. "Now you're sure that you have everything? Toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush and elastics-oh and—"

"Yes, mom, I've triple checked my bag" I laughed in a hushed tone at her worry for me forgetting anything.

"And you're sure you haven't missed anything?" She clarified, watching me carefully for an answer.

"I have everything" I promised her with a nod of reassurance.

"We should leave as soon as you finish your pancakes to get you there on time. Don't want you to be late to your first day"

"I don't need you to drive me, mom, you can go back to bed" I tried to reason with the exhausted woman who only shook her head in protest, set on taking me on my first day, just like how she took my to every first day of school.

"You don't even have a working car, Nick. I'm driving you, end of story" she finalized and I shook my head with a laugh at how stubborn she could be, knowing that was a trait I had gotten from her.

"My car works" I protested her comment.

"Barely, I want to make sure you get there safely" she added and I nodded along, knowing she genuinely cared about me and my safety enough to go out of her way and drive me.

I finished the last few bites of pancakes, taking my plate to the sink where my mothers voice cut me off as I went to quickly wash the dishes before we left.

"Just leave it, I'll get it when I get back" my mother pointed with her orders, her face wearing a teasing softness opposed to the strictness you might have expected from a scolding mother. "We don't need to make unnecessary noise to wake up your father" she reminded with a stern look of warning to which I agreed, setting down the plate and fork before following her towards the door of our house. "You know, you shouldn't leave your stuff lying around like that" she scolded, nodding to my bag that sat in front of the door while I tied my running shoes on.

"I thought I might need to make a quick escape" I shrugged, pulling on my second shoe and tying it up.

"You'll never have to run from me, Nick"

"I know, mom" I smiled as I opened the door for her and walked out into the cool morning air. The sky was a dark blue while the streetlights and stars were the only thing illuminating the neighbourhood which I had grown up in after the age of four when we had moved here. My mom got into the drivers seat, unlocking the doors for me to throw my bag into the backseat. I got in beside her and got settled into my seat, turning on the radio as we began our two hour drive to the Naval Aviation Academy.

The drive went by fairly fast with the music distracting my mind into a relaxed state of excitement. The trees flew by in the windows, passing by us on our way towards a new change in my life.

5:00am

Pulling off of the main road we followed the private road to the military base. A large gate met us at the end of the road and my mother pulled into one of the outside parking spaces as she wasn't allowed to come inside to say goodbye to me due to security clearance. She put the car in park and glanced over at me while I scrambled to find my paperwork in my backpack, which I have had since high school, to show the guard at the gate and allow me entrance.

"My little pilots all grown up" my mother spoke softly with a sad tone at her baby bird finally leaving the nest, even if her eldest bird refused to leave his father and lives a few house down the street after moving out two years ago.

"I'm not a pilot, mom" I reminded her in a teasing scolding manner to which she smiled, happy to finally see the smile that I had also lost over the years of feeling trapped in my own life.

"But you will be"

"No, I'm going to be a WSO" I corrected with pride to which she smiled again at some distant memory.

"Right, right, just like Goose"

"Just like Goose" I smiled back, remembering the story's she had told me as a child of the famous Maverick and Goose. She turned the car off and stepped out with me as we prepared to say our goodbyes. I stalled time, reaching for my bag in the backseat before walking around the front of the car to meet with her one last time before I stepped onto the base and followed my dreams of becoming a WSO in the US Navy.

"I love you and I'm going to miss you so much" she pulled me into a bone crushing hug which I reciprocated, knowing I would always be at a different level of comfort with my mother than with anyone else. I melted into her touch, afraid of letting go and meeting the harsh reality of life.

"I love you too, mom. I'll see you at graduation, where I will be a full fledged Weapons Systems Operator" I pulled back slightly to tell her with pride, trying to hold back the tears that burned to escape.

"Never give up on your dreams, Nick, my little sunshine" she brushed a stray strand of hair out of my face, cupping my cheek gently as I leaned into her touch, not wanting to let go yet.

"Alright, I know, I know." I laughed, knowing it was time to go even if I didn't want to, it was now or never and it had to be now. "I've got to go, but I'll see you in a few weeks!" I called back, running off with a wave as I made my way to greet the grumpy guard at the fence.

"Good morning" I walked over to the guard who seemed to wear a constant frown by the creases in his face.

"Paperwork" he demanded, holding a hand out tiredly, clearly not enjoying the early hour of dealing with Naval Aviation Cadets.

"Here you go" I handed over the proper paperwork with my enthusiastic attitude.

"Thank you, ma'am" he nodded with a stone cold expression as he examined the papers with a brief glance. I rocked on the balls of my feet impatient to start training. He handed back my papers before pressing a button to open the gates for me. A buzz sounded out and the large gate had pulled aside and allowed me entrance.

"Thank you, have a nice day" I waved to him as I passed through the gates and onto the base.

People were swarming around, getting lost already as I glanced around what would be my new home for the next few months. With a deep breath I gave myself a nod of encouragement and walked into the chaos which would soon be calmed into a strict ordered environment.

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Question of the day: what did you think of the first chapter?