Let Your Hair Down

CHAPTER ONE

I LET OUT AN EXAGGERATED SIGH as I brushed my hair. This is the last night that I have to go to bed at a reasonable hour for to wake up early. Tomorrow is graduation day, and if I were to say that my heart wasn't about to pound out of my chest, I would be lying.
I am thankful to have came this far, I barely passed my classes and hardly ever showed up to school. My dad is so proud of me while my mom shows minimal excitement. She's not very happy that I'm leaving day after tomorrow, but I have reassured her at least a dozen times in the last week that I will give her a call when I get to my first rest stop.

The door creaked open as my dad peaked inside. I turned to face him as I brushed the last strand of my hair. "Getting ready for your big day?" My dad, Walter, asked as he sat on the edge of my bed. I let out another sigh as I sat down beside him. "I'm nervous." I looked up at him and he put his arm around me, clutching my left shoulder. "You're about to start a new chapter of your life, sweetheart. It's okay to be nervous and excited and feel all of the emotions at the same time. This is the day you've looked forward to since you were twelve." Walter reassured.
The ghost of a smile lingered on my lips. "Thank you dad, I don't know where I would be without you."

After our conversation about life after graduation, we said our good nights and he turned off my lights as he exited the room. I tossed and turned all night, not being able to even get in a comfortable position to even attempt to sleep.

The next morning, I stared at myself in the mirror and traced along the bags forming under my eyes. I had gotten an hour's worth of sleep at the most. I rolled my eyes and started to get dressed for the day ahead of me.

"Wait, let me get my camera!" My mom shouted as I walked down the stairs in my cap and gown. I made an annoyed face at my dad as he just shrugged and smiled at me. "Francis, she hasn't even had breakfast yet." Walter whined as the flash of the camera blinded me.
"Walter she is leaving tomorrow morning to travel the damn country...If I want to take a million pictures of my daughter, who I pushed out of my body, after forty one hours of labor then I will." Francis snapped. I knew she would be on edge today. I giggled. I can't wait to leave this town.