Emily moped around the house with Banjo, the ticking clock amplifying the fleeting hours until their return flight to Madison. “For the love of—why does time seem to speed up when it’s close to leaving?” she thought morosely.

  She walked slowly, trailing her fingers along every surface, trying to imprint every detail in her memory—the smell of pine that permeated the house, the pictures of Sarah and Uncle Jack growing up, the bed in the guest room, the railings on the staircase, the old couch her grandfather napped on - everything she had become familiar with over this trip. Each sensation was an attempt to hold onto the precious moments with her grandparents.

  Logically, endings are inevitable— Emily’s higher functioning intellect had reluctantly accepted this reality, albeit with a sarcastic edge, questioning why homework seemed exempt from it. The child in Emily, however, struggled immensely with the thought of leaving her grandparents. After all, one of the best things that can happen to a child is having loving grandparents.

  As the departure loomed, Emily desperately wished the universe would grant her just one more day—one more precious day with her grandparents and the comfort of their home. “I know I met them not too long ago,” she thought ruefully, “but I feel like I’ve known them forever…”

  Unconsciously, Emily hovered around her grandmother as she packed, always staying within her periphery, seeking comfort in their shared presence. When not with Joan, she found solace by her grandfather on the couch, leaning in slightly just to remind herself he was still there. “It’s okay, Em—just be a kid and enjoy these moments with your grandparents,” a soft voice murmured within her, offering reassurance whenever anxieties crept in. By now, Emily had learned to mostly tune out this voice—figuring it was just her conscience—but this time, she felt grateful for its quiet encouragement.

  At one point, Sarah playfully teased Emily—engaging in their usual banter and lighthearted games of tickling and gentle pokes. But Emily paused, instinctively picking up on something beneath her mother’s smile. Though Sarah’s lips curved in amusement, her eyes seemed distant, shadowed by something unsaid.

  "She’s a kid too, Em…” Emily thought—or perhaps it was a deeper part of her mind musing—it was hard to tell. “Adult or not, she’s still a daughter leaving her parents behind… far away. Just for a moment, maybe she needs to be the child again.”

  A wave of empathy passed through Emily, resonating within her. Without another thought, she walked over to Sarah, wrapping her arms around her mother’s waist in a gentle hug.

  “It’s okay, Mom…” Emily murmured, rubbing her mother’s back in the best way she knew. For just a moment, she closed her eyes and felt as though there was another part of her—something within but not entirely her—offering comfort to her mother too, their emotions blending and strengthening each other.

  “Hey—I know you’re hurting too, in your own way. Don’t worry about me; this too shall pass,” Emily whispered, her voice carrying a wisdom beyond her years. Sarah’s eyes widened at the unexpected words, tears welling as she absorbed the weight of her daughter’s empathy. Kneeling down to Emily’s level, she pulled her into a tight embrace.

  “Thank you, sweetheart,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I needed that.”

  Emily held her mom close, feeling a sense of peace settle over them both. In that moment, the roles seemed to blur as mother and daughter found solace in each other’s arms. The house around them felt warmer, and the impending departure seemed just a little less daunting.

  —

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  As expected, departure time arrived, creeping up far faster than anyone had hoped. As the luggage was loaded into Ken and Joan’s vehicle, Emily knelt down to say goodbye to Banjo, who seemed to sense her sadness. She buried her face in his soft fur, whispering a plea meant only for him. "Look after them, Banj, and take care of yourself, okay?" Banjo responded with a wet lick to her cheek, and despite her heavy heart, Emily managed a small smile.

  It took every ounce of her resolve to hold back her tears, but she steadied herself, surprised by a gentle warmth spreading through her, almost like a comforting hug from within.

  With a deep breath, she stood up and climbed into Ken and Joan’s car with her parents for the drive back to the airport. She was quiet, glancing back at the house as it slowly shrank from view. "Will this place ever change? I hope not... I’d love for it to stay just like this," she thought, taking in the sights of Port Jefferson as the car meandered through the narrow streets. "I hope…this isn’t the last time I see it," she wished with all her heart—and, for a moment, she could have sworn there was someone else sharing that same hope deep within her.

  The entire drive, Emily reflected on everything she had experienced on this unforgettable trip. Her grandparents’ stories, exploring Port Jefferson, the hugs and cuddles, her journey of self-discovery, time with Banjo, and watching her parents laugh—it all filled her with a profound sense of completeness. As they neared the airport, Emily silently hoped for any force to stall the trip home—a flat tire, a canceled flight, anything—but there was no reprieve.

  —

  Emily watched as her family unloaded their suitcases, a pang of longing welling up inside her. The entire moment felt surreal, as though she were navigating a waking dream. Hadn’t they only just arrived in New York? And yet, they’d built enough memories to last a year.

  "Well, Ken, Joan," Thomas said with one hand on the luggage cart, "thank you, as always, for everything." Ken shook his hand firmly, followed by a quick, tender hug from Joan. “You’re always welcome here, Tom…” Joan murmured. “We’re so proud of you…and of your family,” Ken quietly added, a knowing look in his eyes.

  They turned to Sarah, whose own eyes were misty. "You must come visit us in Madison for Christmas, or whenever you can," she said, holding her parents close. “We will, honey, we will,” Joan promised, gently rubbing her back. “Of course, kid,” Ken added, “we can’t wait so long between trips…”

  Then came Emily’s turn. Ken knelt down to her level, his eyes warm with emotion. "Well, Emily, it was so good to finally see you again. We had fun, didn’t we?" he said, gently poking her nose.

  Joan smiled sadly, adding, "I hope we meet again soon, Em. Be safe, be good, listen to your parents, and…” She paused, seemingly unsure of the right words, then added, “…never change.”

  Emily nodded, her own eyes misting as she looked at each of them. Time seemed to pause; her emotions swelled, her words suddenly catching in her throat.

  "Time to be going, kiddo," said Thomas gently. Sarah took Emily’s hand, and they began walking toward the departure gate. Emily glanced back over her shoulder at her grandparents, who stood waving, their faces full of love.

  At that moment, an inexplicable urge welled up inside her. "It’s okay, Em…" the voice in her mind whispered gently. "It’s okay to feel this way. Don’t think—just go to them."

  Without a second thought, Emily tore her hand away and, with every ounce of determination, ran back to Ken and Joan. She flung herself into their arms, tears streaming down her cheeks as she buried her face in Ken’s overcoat.

  "Thank you—both of you—I’m going to miss you. I don’t want to go," she sobbed, her voice trembling with emotion. It felt as though something deep within her had released, as if the love she’d experienced with her grandparents had healed a part of her soul she hadn’t even known was wounded. In a moment of sheer honesty, she whispered, “Son of a biscuit…I love you so…fudging…much.” The words, unexpected and perfectly Emily, brought laughter from all the adults.

  “Ah…language, Emily…language,” Joan chuckled, bending down to hug her tightly. Ken, his face lit with a mischievous smile, added, “It’s okay just this once,” as he joined in the embrace.

  In that singular moment, all of Emily’s hesitations—known and unknown, conscious and unconscious—melted away. Emotions fully released, she wept, simply a beloved grandchild wrapped in the unconditional love of her doting grandparents, whom she would miss dearly.