Planting New Roots

The trunk of the car was packed to the brim with plastic bins, a few taped-up cardboard boxes, and Leo’s favorite green sleeping bag. It didn’t look like much, but these were the only remnants of their life in Shoreline. Two weeks ago, a historic storm had swept through their coastal town, bringing a wall of water that flooded their entire neighborhood. When the waters finally receded, Leo’s parents made the difficult decision to migrate to a safer, drier refuge inland.

Their destination was Mountainview, a city perched high in the rocky hills, hours away from the ocean. As their car climbed the steep, winding roads, Leo pressed his forehead against the cool glass of the window. The salty breeze he loved was gone, replaced by the crisp, thin air of the pine forests. Everything here felt unfamiliar. Instead of flat sandy beaches, there were giant gray cliffs. Instead of the rhythmic crashing of waves, there was only the whispering of the wind through the tall trees.