fiction

Chapter 15 - The Open Road

The morning of Sage’s university move-in day arrived with brilliant summer sunshine spilling across the asphalt of our driveway.

Her magnetic gray Ford Mustang GT—'Forge'—was parked proudly in the center, its trunk packed tight with storage bins, bedding, and her overflowing stack of economics textbooks.

Sage stood on the front porch, wearing her favorite denim jacket and a bright, confident smile. She held her university student ID badge up like a badge of honor, her name printed clearly across the front in bold, unshakeable letters.

"All set, kiddo?" Sterling asked, tossing his truck keys into the air and catching them with a grin.

"All set, Dad," Sage nodded, her eyes shining with anticipation for the grand adventure waiting for her down the highway.

She walked over to the driver’s side of her Mustang, unlocked the door, and tossed her heavy key fob into the ignition. The V8 engine roared to life with a deep, satisfying purr that vibrated through the pavement.

Before getting in, she paused, looking back at our porch where Sterling and I stood side by side.

"Thanks, Mom," Sage called out over the engine’s hum. "For everything."

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"Go make your own road, sweetie," I smiled, my heart soaring.

She put the car into gear, flicked on her turn signal, and smoothly pulled out of the driveway, merging onto the open highway under a clear, endless blue sky. The storms of the past were far behind us, and the road ahead was wide open, bright, and entirely her own.

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