GED RLA - S01.2.2v2
Reading Comprehension > Non-Fictional Texts > Literature
Important Instructions
Please read and answer 25 Questions carefully within
TIME LIMIT 35 min.
Title: Finding Her Way Back
The soft patter of rain echoed on the roof as Emily sat by the window, staring out at the familiar street below. Her small apartment, filled with books and little trinkets she'd collected over the years, was warm and inviting, but something felt off. She'd lived here for nearly five years, ever since she'd left the countryside for the city. The hustle, the lights, the noise—all of it had thrilled her at first. But now, it seemed like the city was slowly swallowing her whole.
Outside, people hurried by, umbrellas in hand, as the rain grew heavier. Emily leaned her head against the cool glass, her mind drifting back to her hometown, nestled in the valley far from here. She could still picture the wide, open fields stretching out under a sky that always seemed bigger than anywhere else. It had been years since she’d visited, and even longer since she’d truly felt at home there.
Her phone buzzed on the table beside her, pulling her back to the present. She glanced at the screen—her mother’s name flashed across it. They hadn’t spoken much lately, not since Emily had distanced herself after the move. But now, seeing her name, a wave of longing washed over her. She hesitated, then picked up the phone. “Emily,” her mother’s voice crackled over the line, warm but tinged with something Emily couldn’t quite place. “We’ve missed you. Why don’t you come home for a visit?”
The words hung in the air for a moment. Could she really go back? After all this time? She found herself nodding before she even answered. “I think I will,” she whispered, more to herself than to her mother.
A few days later, Emily stood at the edge of the town she’d once known so well. The rain had stopped, and the air was thick with the scent of damp earth. She took a deep breath and started walking down the old, winding path that led to her childhood home. It hadn’t changed much—still the same red bricks, the same garden full of wildflowers that her mother had always tended with care.
As she approached the front door, it swung open before she could even knock. Her mother stood there, arms wide, a smile on her face that made Emily’s chest tighten with emotion. “Welcome home,” she said softly, pulling Emily into a tight embrace.
Inside, the house was just as she remembered it. The old wooden floors creaked underfoot, and the scent of freshly baked bread filled the air. Emily looked around, taking in the familiar details: the framed photos lining the walls, the quilt draped over the couch, the clock ticking softly on the mantle.
That evening, they sat together, talking and laughing as though no time had passed. Emily’s father shared stories from the farm, his deep voice rumbling through the room. Her younger brother, now taller than she remembered, chimed in with jokes and stories of his own. Emily found herself smiling, a warmth spreading through her that she hadn’t felt in years.
As the night grew late, Emily stepped outside onto the porch. The sky above was clear, stars twinkling like tiny diamonds against the dark canvas. She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling the cool breeze on her skin, and looked out over the fields that stretched beyond the house. This place, with its quiet beauty and the people she loved most, felt like a part of her she’d left behind. But now, standing here under the wide-open sky, she knew she’d found her way back.
Tomorrow, life would go on, and she’d return to the city soon enough. But tonight, with the stars above and the familiar sounds of home surrounding her, Emily let herself be still. She was home, and for now, that was all she needed.
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