WHEN THE STARS FORGET US - EMBRY CALL

11. family guilt

( when the stars forget us! )
↳ chapter eleven ↲

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❝ NEVER FORGET WHERE
YOU COME FROM. ❞
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     THE SOFT MORNING light filtered through the blinds in Bella's room, casting delicate shadows across the desk where Talia sat. The screen of her laptop glowed, displaying a college website with details about their veterinary science program. Her eyes scanned the page, her heart racing with a mix of excitement and nervousness. 

     A junior, she thought. I still have time to plan this out. This could work. She scribbled notes into a small notebook, listing scholarship deadlines, application requirements, and housing options. For the first time in a long while, hope bubbled inside her. 

     The quiet of the house was calming. Bella was at school, so Talia had the morning to herself. The silence gave her space to think—to dream about the possibility of studying in Washington, of pursuing the career she'd wanted since she was a little girl. But even as she researched, a voice nagged at the back of her mind: What would my parents say?

     After taking a deep breath, she reached for her phone and dialed her mom's number. 

     "Hi, mija!" Joyce's warm voice greeted her on the other end. 

     "Hi, Mom," Talia said, trying to sound cheerful. She shifted in her chair, her nerves creeping up. "I wanted to talk to you about something." 

     "Sure, what is it?" 

     Talia hesitated for a moment, then dove in. "I've been thinking about my future, and there's this really great veterinary program here in Washington. It's exactly what I want, and I think I could make it work. The high school Bella goes to is connected to it and it could help me a lot. I'd need to move here, but—" 

     "Move there?" Joyce interrupted, her tone immediately shifting. "Talia, what are you talking about? You're only 17. You don't need to think about moving anywhere right now." 

     "I know, but this program is perfect, Mom. I've been looking into scholarships and grants. I could—" 

     Joyce cut her off again, her voice firmer this time. "Talia, you don't need to go all the way to Washington for that. There are programs here in Arizona. Community college is a good option, and it's free. You'd be close to home." 

     Talia clenched her fist, trying to keep her voice steady. "Mom, I don't want to go to community college. I've worked hard. I have good grades, a good resume—I could get into this program. It's everything I've dreamed of." 

     Joyce sighed, the kind of sigh that made Talia's chest tighten. "Mija, I'm not saying you shouldn't follow your dreams, but why does it have to be so far? You're still so young. Moving across the country alone—it's not a good idea. You can get the same education here, and we'll be here to support you."