Running Out of Time

Chapter Fourteen

Part II: Running Out of Daylight

Years passed. I grew a couple of inches, chopped my hair short, got my driver's license, and became an expert on the fineries of pencil sketches. I joined the school's GSA, marched in pride parades, and did my best to be authentic to myself, whatever that was supposed to mean.

After I left Victoria Bergen School of Dance, I felt surprisingly okay. Sure, that hole was still there, but over time, it felt natural, like a part of me, not like something was gaping and missing. At times, it throbbed more painfully than others, and I would go to sleep with Lia's tunic wrapped around my shoulders. It had taken on a slightly musty smell, but I could still identify her on it.

After some hesitation, I packed it at the very bottom of my luggage. I was going to university—Valley View University of the Fine Arts, to be precise.

As I lugged my backpack onto the car with my mother waiting impatiently, I felt a sense of déjà vu. I wondered if it was possible for someone else to captivate me so completely the way that Lia did. Perhaps it wasn't—perhaps one's first love is special.

I slipped into the car and shut the car door behind me. This time, my mother wouldn't be able to drive me there; I would have to make the flight on my own, and find my way around Seattle, Washington, and get onto campus.

My mother was smiling widely. Ever since I came back from that summer at camp, my parents had been doing their best to be accommodating and understanding of my sudden reveal of my true interests. They were a little distraught and annoyed that I had taken so long to tell them this, especially my wishes not to dance professionally, but they accepted it the best they could.

"I'm so excited!" My mother beamed. "My little Willow is going to college! I can't believe you grew up so fast!"

I groaned. "Mom, can you not be so cliché and stuff?"

She wiggled in her seat out of excitement, and I bit my lip when the car swerved slightly to the right.

"This is so exciting, though. How can you not be more excited?"

I gave a noncommittal grunt and shrug of the shoulders before staring outside. When I went back to Castlebay after the chaotic Instagram outing of my sexuality, I'd found a surprising number of allies, and an equally surprising amount of douchebag boys who found lesbians sexy. I was, now, leaving behind quite a few friends I had made.

When I got to the airport, my mother walked me through how I would get on my plane on time. Finally, taking a deep breath, I walked away from my mother with a wave and approached the security line.

Boarding my plane had no hiccups. I ended up seated in the window seat next to a young boy, even younger than I was, a middle-aged man, snoring away. I leaned my head against the window and slept through the entire flight.

I was awoken by the flight attendant when they announced that we were landing shortly. I rubbed at my eyes blearily and sat up, feeling a little gross and disheveled. It was a good thing my mother wasn't on this flight with me, because she'd be fussing over me, dragging a comb through my hair with no mercy, rubbing my face, and trying to mold me into shape.

I waited and got off the plane towards the end of the pack and made my way to the baggage claim to get my luggage. My backpack weighed heavily on my back, and once I tugged my suitcase out of the baggage claim, I began a fast walk towards the exit.

I hailed a taxi and gave him the address of my university. The taxi dumped me out on the outskirts of campus, and I had to walk all the way to the heart of campus to get my schedule, my room key, and my room number.