The road twisted and turned, rough and uneven beneath the tires. My mum reached back and handed me my crisps without so much as a glance. The silence between us was suffocating. I turned to the window, watching raindrops race down the glass. Mine sped ahead, darting like a horse galloping down a racetrack. My brother's eyes locked on a plane overhead, traced its path through the sky. Dad sighed, shaking his head. We were driving to a new town, a new life. Dad hadn't wanted to move, but Mum’s new job had left him no choice. The tires splashed through the puddle and the low hum of the engine was almost calming. I ripped open the bag of crisps and the smell of the salt and vinegar lingered in the air. I pressed my forehead up against the window as the cold seeped through my head straight to my brain. My parents were bickering but I barely noticed, at this point I’m used to it. The move has made me anxious so far, leaving my friends and my entire life begin wasn’t easy. I clutched the blanket tight, my stomach twisting into knots. I could still hear my best friend’s laughter echoing in my mind, the way we used to race down the school corridors, breathless and happy. Now, I was leaving it all behind. Mum’s voice cut through the hum of the engine, “Maybe if you’d actually support me for once, this wouldn’t be so difficult.” Dad gripped the steering wheel tighter. “Support you? You didn’t even ask what I wanted.” I sank deeper into my seat, pretending I wasn’t there. As we rolled into town, my heart sank. A single flickering streetlight cast long shadows on the pavement. This wasn’t home. This wasn’t anything close.