𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 {𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐥 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐦}

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟕

**Time Skip 4 Years**

A lot has happened since graduating from high school Cheryl and I both got accepted into our dream colleges. I remember the look on Cheryl's face when her acceptance letter came in the mail. I hadn't seen her smile so big the whole time we had been dating. I was beyond proud of her. Cheryl got into Dartmouth University where she would be getting her degree in English and creative writing. I knew how much Cheryl wanted to write stories, especially one she had been working on ever since her twin brother's death. Nana Rose fully supported Cheryl going off to college and I know that meant the world to Cheryl.

I got into Yale Law School and I was over the moon about it. For one it meant that Cheryl and I would only be a little over three hours away from each other and I was going to be able to fulfill my dream of becoming a lawyer. After everything happened with my dad I wanted to go to school because I wanted to become a beacon of hope for families that were in the tough situation my dad and I were put in. I wanted to be a voice for the voiceless and I wanted to have families know that with me I wouldn't stop until I was able to give their family some justice.

When Cheryl left for school I still had about a month before I had to leave so for that month I stood with Nana Rose to help take care of her. Cheryl looked for houses while she was in New Hampshire and found a really nice one that would be perfect to bring Nana Rose to. Cheryl refused to leave her in Riverdale alone while we were in school. She would be living off-campus in the house with Nana Rose and on the weekends I would be making the three-hour drive to be with them. I would be living in an apartment close to campus on my own and I was honestly happy with that. But being away from Cheryl was the hardest thing for me to deal with. We looked for and found the best nurse to help take a load off of Cheryl's shoulders and Nana Rose approved of her as well.   

Things with my mom and sister took a while to get better but after sitting down and talking about things we decided to get professional help and it honestly helped us so much. And things haven't been better.

My dad was accepted into a program in prison where he was able to get out on early release he's been home for about two years and since his release, he's been thriving. He opened up his own tattoo shop and it was amazing seeing him doing something he truly loved and it afforded him to live the best life possible. About a year and a half after he came home he and Selena decided to work things out and I was beyond happy about that. They recently got married and I was super happy to call Selena my stepmom officially.

My family as a whole was in an amazing place now all three of my parents got along so well it was honestly beautiful to see my mom and dad interact with each other. And my mom and stepmom had a pretty great relationship as well. Cheryl and Nana Rose fit right in with everyone and it always made my heart swell seeing everyone I loved with smiles on their faces when we would all get together. This was the family unit I always dreamed of having.