*Caterina*
“Remember to stay safe and don’t go off wandering by yourself.” My mother lectured me through the phone, her voice still filled with the overbearing worry that she’d had when I was a kid.
“I know, Mom. I’m not a child anymore.” I chuckled to myself, curling up a bundle of clothes and folding it within my already packed suitcase. I held my phone to one ear, nodding along to my mother as she prattled on how much she was going to miss me.
“When are you leaving?”
“In an hour or two. Don’t worry so much. Elio will be with me, so it’ll be okay. Plus, I can take care of myself now. I’ll be perfectly safe,” I reassured her, zipping up my bag with the last of my stuff and taking a seat on the bed.
Mom scoffed on the other end of the line.
