Jack stood at the doorstep of his house, his hands gripping the handle of his black suitcase. He wore a gray hoodie, partially zipped over a navy-blue T-shirt. His dark jeans hung a bit loose, and his white sneakers were worn at the toes — as if they had walked with him all the way to this moment.
His light brown hair was neatly combed, just as his mother always insisted on important days. But what stood out the most were his eyes: light brown, usually so calm… now shining with restrained anxiety.
Behind him, the house looked smaller. The overcast sky and the chilly breeze rustling the tree leaves in the yard made the air feel heavier, as if the world, too, sensed the weight of this farewell.
"Are you sure about this, son?" his mother asked, her voice trembling. She wore a light blue wool sweater and leaned on her husband's arm like it was the only anchor she had left.
Jack nodded, trying to smile with confidence.
"Yes, Mom. I need to do this."
His father, tall and strong-featured, said nothing. He just looked at his son as if trying to memorize every detail. His clenched jaw gave away the effort it took to hold back his emotions.
Then Jack's little sister came running up to him.
Her pink pajamas with kitten prints, the fuzzy slippers, and her messy, wavy brown hair still tousled from sleep contrasted with her teary eyes locked on him.
She threw her arms around him tightly.
"You're coming back, right?" she whispered, almost crying.
Jack knelt to her level and smiled, even though his heart was heavy.
"Of course I am. It'll go by so fast you won't even have time to miss me."
She sniffled, trying to look brave. Jack gently stroked her hair.
"Take good care of Mom and Dad for me, okay?"
She nodded silently, taking a few steps back, eyes never leaving him.
Jack took a deep breath. Grabbed his suitcase.
He looked one last time at everything: the house he grew up in, his mother's teary eyes, his father's silence, his sister's embrace.
And then, he took his first step into the unknown.
He didn't know what awaited him.
But one thing was certain:
He was ready to face whatever came his way.