They Forgot I Had No Passport

Summary

When my parents rolled their luggage out of the elevator, I had just walked through the front door, exhausted after a twelve-hour double shift.

The moment my mother saw me, she froze. A tight, performative smile quickly masked her surprise.

"Oh, Chloe. Your dad, Tina, and I are heading out for a trip abroad. I guess it slipped my mind to tell you." She hesitated for a fraction of a second before adding, "You should buy a ticket on the next flight and catch up with us."

I stood there, frozen, the words catching in my throat.