Ava M has been an adventurous girl for a long time, but this journey is something different. For the very first time in her life, she is journeying all alone without the typical company of her best friend Samera, or her brother. A newly introduced 7,200 km highway connecting Indara with Ruska via Parya presents her first solo adventure. She is keen to shoot every moment of her tour with a camera in her hand for her YouTube channel. But as she embarks on this remarkable quest, a glimmer of dread coexisted with her excitement, forging an intriguing layer of tension into her adventure. Ava's Talking to her mother before the trip

At night before starting the journey

The house was quiet, with only the faint hum of the refrigerator breaking the stillness. Ava sat on the couch, gathering her camera and gear, her thoughts swirling. Tomorrow, everything would change. Her first solo trip—no Samera by her side to share inside jokes, no brother to help navigate. It was just her, alone, on this new adventure.

She thought about the vast highway stretching between Indara and Ruska. The excitement of documenting every sight and moment for her YouTube channel thrilled her, but a shadow of doubt crept in, making her stomach churn.

Can I really do this? she wondered, her fingers absently tracing the edges of her camera.

Her mother entered the room, breaking Ava’s train of thought.

"Mom," Ava said, her voice soft with a mix of excitement and uncertainty, "I'm so excited about this trip. But, to be honest, I'm also a little scared."

Her mom smiled softly. "It’s natural to feel this way, Ava. It’s your first time traveling on your own. But you’ve earned this—you’ve always been strong and hardworking."

Ava looked up, a flicker of doubt in her eyes. "I guess so. But what if something goes wrong? I’ve never done this without Bro or Samera."

Her mom sat beside her, placing a comforting hand on her arm. "You’ve always had them with you, and that’s been great. But this is your journey now. You’ll learn a lot about yourself. Besides, you won’t be alone—you’ve got your fans cheering you on, and you can call me whenever you need."

Ava let out a slight laugh. "I know. I just keep thinking about everything that could go wrong."

Her mom squeezed her shoulder. "Instead of worrying about what could go wrong, focus on what could go right. Think of all the amazing experiences you’ve had, the people you’ve met. There’s so much to look forward to—and you’ll have great stories to bring back."

Just then, her dad entered the room, his expression anxious. "Ava, I’m really scared about you going off on your own. Are you sure this is the right decision? Maybe it’s better to postpone the trip."

Ava chuckled softly. "Dad, seriously, you need to calm down. It’s not a big deal. I’ll share my location with you the whole time if it makes you feel better. Every fifteen minutes if you want."

Her dad looked at her mom with worry in his eyes. "How can you be so relaxed about this? You love our daughter, and yet you’re just letting her go like this?"

Her mom smiled reassuringly at him. "I get it, I’m worried too. But we’ve raised Ava to be independent and responsible. This trip is an important part of that. She’s ready, and she’ll be in touch the whole way. Yes, it’s natural to be concerned, but we also have to trust what we’ve taught her. This is how she’ll grow more confident."

Her mom stood up, brushing her hands down her skirt. "Alright, Ava. It’s getting late. You need to get some sleep; you’ve got an early start in the morning. Make sure you’ve checked everything—your bags, passport, visa, cash. Don’t forget anything."

Her dad chimed in, still a bit anxious. "And don’t forget an extra battery and a backup for your camera and phone. Double-check everything."

Ava smiled, rolling her eyes playfully. "Yes, yes, I’ve already checked everything—twice. Now, go! Good night, please."

Her mom kissed her on the forehead, and her dad patted her shoulder, both giving her one last reassuring look before heading to bed. Ava exhaled, her mind buzzing with excitement and nerves as the house grew quiet once again.

                                                                                                                                                                        (Truvale Astra)