"You were the love that came without warning: you had my heart before I could say no."
SEPTEMBER 2016-
WENDY parked her SUV around the back of the dormitory. An eighteen-year-old Mark clutching his seat belt because his mom abruptly hit the brakes.
"Sorry", she says as she almost hits the curb.
"It's okay" he smiles as he dismisses it.
Wendy sighs as she turns to look at her son. "So..."
"Yeah." He turns to look at her as well. He cocks his head to the side as he sees his mother's eyes brim with tears. She lets out a small laugh as she looks away, using her index finger to dab at her eyes.
"I knew this was gonna happen." Mark says, amusement in his tone and expression.
"I'm sorry," she lets out in between sobs, "It's just so much to take in at once."
"Heyyyy," he leans over to pull her into a hug, "it's only about four months till I come home for the holidays."
"That's too far. i don't know if i can wait that long to see my baby." She says.
"You'll be okay." He says as he pulls back.
She sighs again. "You're gonna be okay?"
"I'd be perfect." He gives her one last smile before he steps out of the car. He grabs his two-piece luggage from the back seat. He moves to the passenger window. "Are you for sure gonna be okay?" He asks his mother finally.
Her hands grip the steering wheel as she looks at him, she sniffs, nodding somberly.
He laughs. "Bye, Mom."
"No, no," she shakes her head, "it's 'see you later'." She says.
"Yes, of course." He takes a step back so she could take off. "See you later, Mom."
She blows him a kiss. "Call if you need me, okay?"
He nods, "There's no one else in the world i would rather call." she starts to take off.
"I love you." She says one last time.
"Go home, mom." He waves her off in a playful manner.
she smiles one more time as she drives off.
Mark watches as her car takes the turn in the corner and disappears into the distance.
All of a sudden, he is alone.
He takes in the scene around him. The campus was jostling with life, students rushing to class interwoven with those done for the day. He looks at the dormitory before him, a whole new chapter ahead of him.
He picks up his bags and walk into the building.
.
"Amanda, I'd be fine." Mark says into his phone as he found an empty seat at the back row of the class, students were pouring in, filling the lecture hall. "I really do have to go, the lecture starts in about five minutes." He whines impatiently, wanting to end the call as soon as possible.
"I get thatttt" Amanda dragged on. "But I don't want you to be overwhelmed."
"I am not."
"Cap, you're obviously shaking and screaming and shitting your pants right now."
"What?" Mark asks, genuinely concerned about her. "It's really not that deep."
"But it is, you're terrified and you won't admit it. But that's okay, you'd pull through." She says in mock concern.
