The six years Kaydence spent in Kentucky did not go unappreciated; however, they were short lived. More than half of a lifetime packed into little, pristine boxes within a few days. From little shirts that were purchased when Dad came to town, to shoes that were a reward after she finished kindergarten. With belongings that she had grown so accustomed to, taken out of the home she had grown up in, the house almost felt broken – empty. A shell of its former self left to perish with the different lifestyles that will come to live inside of it. Everything looked smaller without the belongings that had aged looming inside of the house, although it almost looked as though it could finally breathe with the space that had been bestowed upon it with Kaydence and her mom’s depart. The tiny brick house on the end of a Lexington, Kentucky cul de sac had grown stronger through their stay, and would have trouble forgetting the times they spent together. The separation from the house itself had been a difficult adjustment; however, the bonds Kaydence made with the important people in her life had been harder to separate from. 

Her friendships were one of the most important relationships to Kaydence growing up because they taught her how to learn and love. The departing pool party thrown by a family friend was a way to accept the goodbyes and begin to have closure from the losses that were soon to come. The company that she had kept will no longer be by her side to help guide her through life’s toughest endeavors. While decisions never became too strenuous for her at the age of ten, it had always been comforting that she felt support throughout her life’s changes. Hugs had never been something that she necessarily seeked, but in a goodbye, a hug seals the distance that will be put between her and her loved ones. Kaydence’s Mom says that they are going to visit, but she is unsure that everything that had been woven throughout the years of her life would stay reliable. Watching the reality she knew she felt safe in slowly disappear behind her, her mother and her drove away and began their journey to their new home. 

The space was limited inside of her mother’s 2009 White Nissan Altima, making transporting their pets, belongings, and food quite uncomfortable. A crushed up pink powder was administered to the cat each, and every day before travels had begun. Kaydence couldn’t help but imagine the dizziness and discomfort that he had felt; however, he did manage to rest for the entire duration of the travels. Hour by hour, the day had never seemed to grow old fast enough. Two dogs smashed in the backseat with her gave her little to no room to stretch out. Although Kaydence had mysteries that lied ahead of her, she appreciated the companionship that she felt by being surrounded by her animals. The living people or pets in which a person loves make an incredible difference in the comfort that they feel in an unknown environment. She felt little wet noses jab into her legs or arms consistently throughout the trip, which would get quite annoying, but nothing felt more like home.

The drives felt comfortable to Kaydence—same clothes, same car, same animals that she had always been used to. However, when it came to spending nights at random hotels, along the roads in which our travels had come to an end for the day, it was not as simple. Tossing, turning, and never resting when rest was the most important aspect to a trip that wasn’t flooded with mood. Never ending complications regarding sleep followed her from each and every stop until they reached their final destination. She had never felt comfortable sleeping somewhere where she was unfamiliar with the setting around her. The feeling of safety and reassurance was never guaranteed when staying somewhere foreign to her usual home space. However, having her mom and pets there made her feel as safe as possible. 

Driving away from the beautiful green trees in Kentucky and the full grass fields made Kaydence aware of what lay ahead of her: days that were so hot, there could be food cooked on the ground, the air always feeling dry and smelling of dirt, and pollution, and rain being scarce. The difference in the nature in Arizona versus the nature in Kentucky frightened her. This nature varied from beautiful horses running through pastures into thick, shaded woods, to three feet of snow that was used to form wonderful snow creatures in the winter. Serenity was felt through water trickling down streams on top of smooth rocks lying on the bed of the river. Although Kentucky may be overlooked by most people thinking of travelling, it had many beautiful aspects that could only be truly appreciated by someone who knew what it was like to flourish in it. The bright, orange autumn leaves, and distinctive changes in seasons would spark excitement throughout her body. As she saw the seasons changing right before her eyes, she would run outside and explore the natural beauty.  As the green slowly faded to brown, desolate landscapes, it had been clear to Kaydence that she was near the journey’s end. 

While she was approaching the dry, overpopulated city, she began to think about the opportunities and hardships that lay ahead of her. Starting at school with absolutely nobody to talk to, gaining trust of the new house that had not yet gotten to know her, and learning to flourish in Arizona the same way she had in Kentucky had been her main concern. However, she travelled across the country, through endless desert to be closer with her family, and reunite in a way that wasn’t possible without a geographical relocation. As she thought about the openended possibilities that were so close to her, her excitement began to outweigh her worry. Kaydence  was going to be reunited with her  family for the first time in years, and this time, it was not going away.