Through her Ribcage

1

"Adeline!", my mother calls from down the hallway. I can hear her in the kitchen, loading more stuff into the box of my belongings I'm taking to college with me. I sigh, imagining just what unnecessary things she could possibly be putting in there.

"Yes Mother!?", I call back.

"Are you almost ready? Jesse and Blair are here!".

My boyfriend Jesse and his sister Blair; who is also my best friend, have just arrived to join us on our drive down to my new college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University. I was told at my interview with Harvard that I'd be accepted but that didn't waiver my excitement or relief the day I opened my acceptance letter. I wouldn't hear the end of it if I hadn't been accepted. Although my mother wouldn't allow that.

"Adeline!!", my mothers voice booms down the hallway.

"I said I'm coming Mother!", I call back.

I straighten the light pink cardigan on my shoulders in the mirror before tightening my blonde ponytail slightly and tucking the one loose curl that has come free behind my ear. I consider redoing my hair. To tie the loose strand back into the rest, but my father's voice tears me from my indecisive thoughts as he pushes open my bedroom door.

"Adeline Jane Davis, please hurry up. You're stressing your mother and we don't need her in a bad mood on the drive. She wants us to get on the road as soon as possible. It's almost a 3 hour drive to Massachusetts so the sooner we leave the better."

I clear my throat, "Yes Father, I'm coming now", I say over my shoulder.

I gather up my small brown purse, place it over my shoulder and leave my bedroom for the last time. At least the last time for a while. My stomach begins to knot, I'm so nervous. I step out into the hallway, past my father. He places a firm hand on my shoulder stopping me for a moment.

"Yes?", I say looking up at him. "I am so very proud of you Addie", my father says as he kisses the top of my head.

"Thank you Dad", I say hugging him.

"Now come along, before your mother blows her top".

I laugh light heartedly. He's not at all wrong. She will in fact blow her top. The OCD and controlling part of her personality seems to be on high alert today.

As I approach the kitchen I can hear Jesse and Blair going back and forth at each other which makes me laugh quietly to myself. They've been my friends and neighbours for as long as I can remember. Jesse is a year older than Blair and I and they both attend the local college here in town, University of Vermont. I'm going to miss them both so much once I'm in Massachusetts. I really wish they were going to school at Harvard with me but I know they need to stay close to home.

"There she is!", Blair announces, her arms stretched out in front of her, as I enter the kitchen.

"Hey Harvard", Jesse says smirking as he wraps his arms around me in a tight hug and kisses my temple.

"Hey you", I say hugging him back. My stomach does a back flip. This is getting so real, I'm actually leaving for college.

My father walks through the kitchen giving Jesse a side look causing him to release me from his hold. My father continues to collect my things before carrying them out to the trunk of the car. "Is this the last of it Adeline?", he asks as he steps out onto the veranda.

"Um..", I begin, scanning the area for any items left behind before my mother, in her typical fashion answers for me.

"Yes it is dear.", she says coming to stand in front of me. She lifts her hand and tucks the strand that had freed itself from my pony, back behind my ear.

"I like this", she says gesturing to the stray curl, "It's as if you're not trying so hard".

I sigh, "Thanks Mum". She is right though, I should really be trying a little harder to be more presentable on my first day of college. I watch as my mother walks out toward the car. I really do admire her poise.

"Come on kids!", she yells for us.

Blair and Jesse both give me a squeeze before we all walk outside shutting and locking the door behind us.

I try to tame the butterflies that are somersaulting in the growing pit in my stomach. I slide into the back seat. This is it. In just under 3 hours, I'll be officially a Harvard college student! The butterflies flip around a little more. Dancing amongst a mixture of excitement and anxiousness. I wonder what college is going to be like? Will I be in a shared dorm? Will I make friends?