3 years prior to start of apocalypse

"Mom, I'll be fine." She chuckled lightly, hugging her mother again. Her mother smiled through unshed tears. It felt like just yesterday her daughter had gotten her first job, jumping around giddy. Now here her daughter was, 19 years old, packing the trunk of the car full of luggage for college. Her mother sighed loudly as she hugged her child tighter and rocked her back and forth.

"I know, I know! But you're moving out! You're moving an hour away! My little bird is leaving my nest, and it's hard on me!" Her daughter rolled her eyes. She pulled back and looked at her mom. Her eyes crinkled in a sad smile, crow's feet stretching into her temples. Her gray eyes glassy with tears. She hadn't dyed her hair recently, and her roots were turning silver, a contrast against the dark brown her hair used to be. Her father stood behind her mom; his hand clasped gently on his wife's shoulder. He smiled softly at his wife and daughter, and he rolled his eyes jokingly over his wife. Even though he did this, she knew her dad was just as affected as her mother. If anything, She was closer to her father than her mother.

"You better not change your mind about your major! I'm not paying for a whole bunch of books again!" her father teased. She rolled her eyes playfully at her dad before stepping out of her mom's embrace and hugging her father.

"Dad! You know this is what I want to do. I've been considering being a Bioengineer since sophomore year! Quit teasing me." Her father took in a shuddering breath as he laughed. She was almost afraid to look him in the eyes. She knew that this would be hard on him; he mentioned it sparsely throughout the years as she grew up. Now the time had come, and she knew that his face had gotten slightly red as his eyes got red and glassy with tears. His voice got all choked up and thick sounding. She hated seeing either of her parents cry, but it was especially hard on her to hear or see her old man cry.

"Don't go crying on me, Dad. I'll start crying along with you and Mom and then this will be a huge mess. I promise to call you guys once I get settled in. I'll be coming home for the holidays. I'm not completely going away yet! Even if you wanted me away, you're going to have to try harder than college," she told both her parents.

"I suppose you probably need to head off," her mother called. Her mouth twisted into a disappointed frown. Their daughter smiled sadly, sharing one more embrace with each of her parents. She walked down the driveway. Her car was parked along the side of the road. A small, black Saturn Ion. The trunk was packed full of memorabilia from her room. Photos of friends, a few stuff animals that had special meanings, her bed spread, and a few other things. She also had two suitcases stuffed so full of clothing that she had to get her father to sit on the suitcases, so she could zip them close because she didn't weigh enough.

She pulled open her car door, but before she got in, she looked at her parents one last time, standing on the last step of the porch. She waved wildly at them, smiling before leaning down and getting into the car. She closed the door and started the engine. She glanced out the passenger window to see her parents waving timidly. She buckled up, moved the car into drive, and left.

She rolled down her window; her hair whipped around crazily, and she scrapped a few strands behind her ear. She turned the volume up in her car as she sang along to "Hollaback Boy" by Cobra Starships. The nerves writhed in her stomach. She was anticipating her new adventure into the world. College was a big step. She was leaving the safety blanket that her parents provided. She was worried that things would go awry as soon as she left. Yet, at the same time, she was excited. She was excited to be away from her parents constant gaze and to make new friends. She felt freed, but at the same time restricted. She couldn't be completely unbound, set upon the world to do as she pleased. Her worry and apprehension kept her from living fully the way she wanted. She felt ready though. She was ready to take on what the world had to throw at her. She could confidently say that she was ready for the "real world" her dad always mentioned.