“Dawn, what’s wrong?,” my mom asked me as she looked at me through the rearview mirror.

“You look pale,” she said worriedly which prompted my dad to turn his head and look at me.

I forced a smile and said, “I’m okay, mom. Really.”

They continued looking worriedly at me until they were sure I was really okay despite being pale. They then focused on the road ahead.

I sighed and looked outside while thinking how to tell my parents what’s on my mind.

It doesn’t seem good to tell them to change the road we’re taking to go home because I’ve traveled to the past; because it would lead to an accident which would take their lives.

“What’s a good reason to say?” is what I’ve been thinking as I anxiously looked here and there.

“Honey, don’t you think something’s going on up ahead?,” my dad asked that prompted me to look back at him.

My mom did not answer his question instead she drove to the side of the road and parked the car for awhile. She opened the car window as she also focused on what’s happening up ahead. I also opened the car window on my side to see what’s happening.

The cars behind us continued to drive ahead of us as we stalled there and checked what’s happening.

I looked at my dad when he opened the door and stepped out. He walked to the place were people are gathering, who are also checking on what is happening.

I looked at my mother when she closed the window and instead waited for my dad to come back. She tapped the driving wheel while waiting.

After a few minutes of being there, my dad came back.

“There’s a protest going on ahead, that’s why the cars cannot move forward,” he said as soon as he came back.

“So, should we continue or drive back to another road?” My mom asked.

“Mom, I think we should drive back and go to another way since I think it would take a long time for the traffic to loosen,” I said calmly. But deep inside I’m really hoping for them to agree.

“Don’t you think so, dad?” I dragged my dad in the conversation to get my mom to agree. I looked at him innocently and smiled sweetly.

My dad laughed and said, “Yes. We should go back, honey. It’s okay for us to be a little late than to be stuck in traffic for a long time.”

“We are still a little bit away from the traffic, and there are few cars behind us, so, why not we drive back, hmm?” He added and looked at my mom.

I also looked at my mom, earnestly hoping for her to agree.

“Fine. Guess we’ll do just that,” she said smilingly and started the car.

I only sighed in relief as soon as we were far away from that place - the place that took my parents away from me forever.

I hurriedly wiped my tears as I realized I could still be with them this time.

I looked outside as our car traverses the road towards our home. I closed my eyes and smiled widely in relief and happiness.