Liam stood in the middle of his room, staring at the chaos of books and clothes scattered across the floor.
He had left everything to pack at the last minute, as always.
His fingers absentmindedly brushed the latest book he'd been reading, but his mind wasn't there.
It was in the future — on what was about to happen.
Since he was little, Liam had always had a restless mind, full of ideas and solutions for everything.
He was never the type to settle into routine.
The idea of leaving for something new — of stepping away from the home and people he'd always known — didn't scare him.
In truth, he was excited.
He wanted more. He wanted to see the world. Live something out of the ordinary.
The bedroom door opened, and his mother appeared with a gentle smile and a hint of worry in her eyes.
"Liam, you haven't finished packing yet?" she asked — calm, but attentive.
Liam laughed, trying to hide the feeling that time was moving too fast.
"I was just… finishing the book, Mom. Don't worry, I'll get everything done in time."
Easy smile. But he knew she wasn't buying it.
She stepped in and sat on the bed, looking at him with a soft but serious expression.
"You know you can tell me how you're feeling, right?"
Liam hesitated. He was good at hiding what he felt, but his mother always managed to get past his defenses.
He shrugged, trying to sound carefree.
"I'm just a little anxious, that's all. Nothing big. I know what I'm doing."
He tried to smile. She wasn't convinced.
She touched his shoulder — steady, reassuring.
"You're going to do great, Liam. But remember: you don't have to carry the whole world on your back all the time. You can ask for help when you need it."
Liam looked at her and, for a moment, he felt the weight of those words.
He had always thought he needed to be perfect — that he couldn't fail.
But right then, he heard it clearly: he didn't have to do everything alone.
"I know, Mom. I'll do my best."
She smiled and rose from the bed.
"That's all we can ask for, son. Go for it. And don't forget — we'll always be here waiting for you."
She pulled him into a tight hug.
The last wave of apprehension faded.
It was as if her words had put everything into perspective.
He was about to move forward.
And now, more than ever, he felt ready.
With one last look at the room, he grabbed his backpack and started packing what was left.
He knew this journey was just the beginning of something much bigger.
And with a determined smile, he took a deep breath.
The world was waiting for him.