Chapter 1: Home.
Early summer morning sun was slowly spreading its light across the city. The night was over and it wasn't long until everyone would have to wake up and start their day. Not Tom, though, no. Tom was already fully awake in his flat.
He was eating his breakfast: A healthy mix of fruits and vegetables. He wasn't a vegetarian by any means, no. But he always tried to maintain a healthy diet. As a result, Tom never had problems with being overweight, and was quite healthy overall. He was actually the opposite: a slim body and quite short. Some would even describe his appearance as "feminine".
After finishing his breakfast and doing the dishes, Tom looked at the calendar on the wall. Today's date was circled with a red marker. Later that day, Tom was going to travel to his hometown, to visit his family. He hasn't seen them in years, so the thought of a reunion had put a smile on his face.
A few hours later, Tom was ready. He was standing in front of a mirror, checking how he looked one last time before leaving. He was wearing glasses, a sweater, smart trousers and smart shoes, and his hair was as curly as usual. Tom nodded at his reflection and put on his over-the-shoulder bag. He didn't take much with him. Mostly just spare clothes that all fit in a single suitcase. Soon, Tom had already boarded a train and was on his way.
During the trip, Tom thought a lot about his family. He moved out a few years ago, when he went to college. Ever since then, he only saw his family during his annual visits home. Last year Tom graduated from university and now he was coming home a grown man with a job. Tom was looking forward to seeing everyone again. His mother, his father and his sister. They all stayed behind, so Tom embraced the big world all by himself.
The train finally arrived, and Tom got outside.
"This is it, huh? God, it's been a while..." he thought to himself as he took a deep breath, the fresh air of his hometown filling his lungs.
"Tom!" a male voice could be heard. "Tom, my boy! It's you!"
Tom was caught off-guard. He looked at whoever was calling for him. As it turned out, it was his father, George. George was a chunky middle-aged man with a friendly smile. He was wearing a suit, looking unusually professional.
"Dad!" Tom was happy to see him.
"Tommy! How are ya?!" George hugged his son.
"I'm fine, thank you. What's with the suit?"
"Oh, that? Hah! I haven't seen my son in years! I have to look my very best for the occasion!"
"Ahaha! I like it."
"Come on, let's go!" George nodded in the direction of the car park next to the train station. "Your mum and sister are waiting for ya!"
He enthusiastically took his son's luggage and carried it all the way to the car.
Shortly after, George was driving his son home. Home. This town was where Tom grew up. It's only been a year since his last visit, but it felt like it's been so much longer. As his father was giving him a ride home, Tom looked out the window, at all the streets they were passing. So many familiar places, so many memories. It was much smaller than the big city Tom had gotten used to by now, but that didn't make it any less welcoming.
George asked Tom about his job, his hobbies, and much more. Though, he tried not to ask too much to have something to discuss when the whole family gathers together. He did, however, make sure to ask one last question.
"You found yourself a girl yet, eh?" George nudged Tom.
"No..." his son didn't seem to be very enthusiastic to discuss this subject.
George noticed that. He knew Tom was in a relationship before, but it didn't work out.
"Well, don't worry about it," he decided to cheer his son up. "It's just how life can be sometimes, you know? There's somebody for everybody out there."
At this moment, they arrived home.
"Look, we're home!" George announced. "Do you still recognise it? Hahahahaha!"
As they got out of the car, George went to get the luggage, while Tom just looked at the house, his heart feeling warm. It was just as he remembered it. There was some comfort in the fact that no matter how many times he comes back to it, the house remains the same.
"Tommy! Tommy, it's you!" a female voice exclaimed.
This time, it was Tom's mother, Susan. A cute, chunky, middle-aged lady with curly hair. She saw her son out the window and rushed outside to meet him, still wearing her kitchen attire. She was obviously cooking something before this.
"Tommy, I missed you so much!" Susan said as she was hugging her son.
"I missed you too, mum," Tom hugged his mother.
"Wait, what?!" another female voice could be heard. "Tom's back?!"
As Tom was done hugging his mother, he saw his older sister, Ashley. Ashley was tall, fit and with long pink hair, done in a ponytail. She came out of the house, wearing a white tank top and a pair of black shorts.
"Tom! Tommy!" Ashley rushed to her brother enthusiastically.
"Woah! Easy, easy!" Tom wasn't sure if he could handle all the incoming love from his big sister.
She hugged him very tight.
"Tom, you little brat!" Ashley was almost crying from how happy she was. "I missed you so much!"
"I missed you too, Ashley," Tom hugged his sister.
As his sister was hugging him, Tom felt the calming, welcoming embrace of his family. Now, he truly was home.
Tom's thinking process got interrupted by Ashley. She's put him in a headlock.
"You dork!" she said playfully. "Leaving your big sis for so long! Do you have any idea how much I missed you?!"
"Aaaaaah! I'm sorry!" Tom tried to break free, but he stood no chance against Ashley.
"Ahaha! C'mon, Ashley, let your brother go!" said George as he walked past, carrying the luggage to the house.
Ashley let Tom go and patted him on the head.
"Seriously, though, welcome home, Tom," she said. "I missed you. We all did.".
Shortly after, the entire family was inside the house. It was already late in the evening and Susan made dinner for everybody.
"Man, I'm hungry!" announced Ashley as she entered the dining room.
Ashley bit into her food wildly, like a predator into its prey. Similar to how George ate his dinner. Meanwhile, Susan and Tom were the total opposites and were eating their food very carefully.
"How's work, honey?" Susan asked her son. "How have you been holding up out there, all by yourself?"
"It's great!" Tom replied. "Working as Ms Stone's personal assistant is tough, but it pays off. She's normally grumpy and blunt. But when she likes you, she likes you. I recently got a raise, which was a pleasant surprise"
"So you'rmf almfost a billiomfaire?" Ashley asked with her food still in her mouth.
"Ashley, please finish chewing before speaking," Susan told her off for that.
"Well, it wasn't THAT big of a raise..." Tom giggled.
"I'm just kidding, hahahaha!" Ashley nudged her brother.
He laughed in response.
"Your sister and I still work in my car repair shop" George said.
"Oh, really?!" Tom responded. "That's cool! Seems like you two have really found your passion"
"Yeah, well..." George looked down and didn't sound very happy. "It's not doing so well lately. We seem to be spending more than we're earning"
"Oh... Sorry to hear that. But I'm sure it will work out fine in the end"
