Home. It's been different over the years. My home was with my parents in our own house. It changed to my aunt's apartment, a dorm room, then my apartment now. I can't wait to be home with Casey and my aunt and her family, and Anthony and his daughter. It's where I truly feel at home now. Dr. Harrison's affirmations breathed a new life in me. She knows I'm doing better and for the past month it's been without the pills she prescribed. I know I can do this on my own, but maybe I'll start up again in the next week. I just don't want anyone to find out. It's Thursday afternoon. I left town as soon as I got out of work. I know I'm going to take a lot of time off when it gets closer to the wedding so I'm only taking this Sunday off of work. I'm driving through these old roads and memories from when my parents were still here pop into my head. My aunt Jade and James moved into a two-bedroom duplex and they insisted I stay at their house instead of grabbing a hotel room. Casey wanted me to stay with her and Levi, but that would've felt a little weird, like I'm intruding on their bubble. The neighborhood where their duplex is is really nice. I drive along the streets until I get to their house, remembering easily even though I've only been here once. My aunts old car is parked in the driveway along with James' SUV. I park on the side of the road and take a deep breath. Just as I open my car door, the front door opens, revealing my aunt with little Penelope in her arms. She runs up to me and wraps her free arm around me. "My gorgeous babe, I've missed you so much!" I hug her tightly before I take Penelope in my arms. "I've missed you all so much. I'm sorry I didn't come sooner." Penelope squeals in my arms and takes my face in her small hands. Her honey hair is in a long braid and her light brown eyes sparkle as they lock with mine. For a split second I see my mom in her. "Don't worry about it," she waves it off. "James will be here in a little bit. He ran to the store to get some things for dinner." I grab my bag and we head inside. Penelope runs into the house ahead of us and I follow her. Once inside, the warm smell of vanilla, my aunts favorite scent, hits me and it brings me back to the apartment. It's similarly decorated to the old apartment, with things from James scattered throughout. The same photos we had at the apartment are hanging, including some with my parents. I instantly spot the newer photo of me, my aunt, James, and Penelope at my college graduation. God, it was only a year ago, why do I feel so aged now? ~ Friday morning James is up early making coffee while my aunt Jade and Penelope are still sleeping. I join him in the kitchen. After a restless night on the air mattress I have no problem getting up early. I can practically feel the bags under my eyes hanging low. James lets out a long sigh as he pours coffee into a mug. "There's nothing I'd rather do than spend my morning with college kids trying to teach them basic genetics." He'd picked up a summer class and I can tell he really loves it. Also, that his sarcasm is just as funny as it was when I first met him years ago. "At least it's only for an hour and fifteen minutes," I tell him. He gets it over with in the morning and then has the rest of the day with my aunt and Penelope. Soon enough he starts getting ready and I hear stirring from Penelope. She enters the living room where I'm sitting, rubs her eyes, and sits next to me, laying her head in my lap. I take my phone out, snap a picture of her, and quickly post it on Instagram. This moment is too cute not to be shared. My aunt Jade is in the kitchen making pancakes after James leaves. She's moving through the cabinets with ease. "James never wants to eat in the morning. He has his coffee and is on the run," she says. She pours the pancake batter into the pan and moves it into the shape of a heart. "For P." We eat our pancakes, which are just how I remember them. A sugar high seems to strike Penelope and she starts running around the house with her arms in the air. I chase after her until I'm literally losing my breath. "I can't keep up with you, little bug," I say as I tickle her on the couch. "If a young body like yours can't keep up with her, imagine how I feel every day," my aunt laughs as she sits down next to me. "What are your plans for the day?" Casey switched shifts today so she can be off tonight. She wants to have a girls night before we go out with Levi and Anthony tomorrow night. "Casey and I are going out tonight, so I'm basically here to bother you guys until then." My aunt waves it off. "You're not bothering. I wish you could stay longer." "I promise I'll stay longer once the wedding gets closer, whenever that'll be." I have a strong feeling Casey will want to get her Master's degree before tying the knot. "I can't believe she's getting married. You two are growing up so fast, I swear it's like seeing my daughters leaving the nest and making their own," she smiles as she says it, but the sadness in her voice is there. I nudge her. "Well, I'm not getting married any time soon." I wonder if I should tell her about Ben. I mean, we've hooked up twice, but the conversations have been so much more than casual small talk. Maybe I'll wait to tell her. I know Casey will get it out of me, but I'll try my best to hide it. She gives me a smile and grabs a hold of my hand. "I wish your mom and dad were here to see you so grown up." "They wouldn't pay any attention to me. Not with Penelope around," I laugh. Sure they'd love me unconditionally, but Penelope definitely would've stolen my spotlight from them. Not that I would mind. "I swear sometimes I'm looking at your mom when I see her. Her fiery personality is just the same." Penelope hops into my lap and takes my face into her small hands again. I don't know why, but when she does it I feel like she's just staring into my soul and trying to heal me with her hands. ~ Casey calls me after getting out of work and we agree to meet at her place around six o'clock. This gives me more time to spend with my aunt, James, and Penelope.