𝚂𝚊𝚛𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚖 𝚒𝚜 𝙼𝚢 𝙱𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝙵𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍 (Complete)

𝙲𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝙱𝚎 𝚊 𝚆𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊 𝙵𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚞𝚛𝚎

"The back windows are tinted, Paris," Lillian tells me. "You don't need a disguise."

I sink deeper into my seat, adjusting my sunglasses and hat—despite it being pitch black outside.

I'm sitting in the backseat of Lillian's dad's car who—if it's even possible—is even nicer than Lillian, although less apologetic and more laid back. Makes me wonder what her mom is like.

"But what if someone has glasses that can see through tinted car windows?" I question in a loud whisper.

If you want the advice of an old man like me," Lillian's dad begins.

Honestly, he didn't look old at all. Maybe like thirty or something. But I don't argue and just let him continue.

"I would let jerks be jerks. They don't know the difference between their butts and their face. But you know what I've learned in my fifty years of living?"

He's fifty?

"No one should give a flying fart in space what other birdbrains think of them. Ever wondered how famous people get famous? Or presidents become presidents? Or anyone become anything? Anything impressive that is, not like a robber or something." He winks through the rear-view mirror. "It's because they decided to prove everyone wrong. They didn't give up because people laughed at them. They knew what a delicious feeling it is to be right in the end. I shocked my entire family when I decided to become a doctor. They told me 'to Antarctica with that' when I first told them. Now look at me. I've been practicing medicine for over ten years. If you don't get my meaning, then think of it this way. Thousands of people are watching your video and thinking 'failure'. You know what you should be thinking? 'Winner'. Winner winner, chicken dinner. Then you can laugh right back. You get what I'm putting down?"

Ｆａｉｌｕｒｅ

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭

Ｆａｉｌｕｒｅ

𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩

I blink behind my sunglasses. I feel a bit surprised at his words.

Can I do that?

Can I decide to prove everyone wrong?

"But what if they're right?" I ask softly. "What if no matter how hard I try, in the end, she's—they're always right?"

He ignores my slip and answers, "Well then you keep on trying."

"And when I fail?"

"You can't fail forever, kid. Unless you never try. Then your failure is more than guaranteed."

"How do I try? What do I do? I don't even know where to start."

"Start with keeping your head up high. And remove that ridiculous disguise. You shouldn't be ashamed of who you are."

———————

We arrive at Lillian's house within minutes. She has a humble home, a perfect size for her and her parents. When we go inside, I notice the homey decor and the warm smell circulating through the air.

"I started some cookies before we left," Lillian explains. "I hope you like chocolate chip."

"It's a classic," I reply, following her to the kitchen. The timer on the oven tucked into a corner of the kitchen has just a few minutes left. Lillian walks over to it and peers inside.