The next day rolled around and Lauren could feel herself slowly but surely regaining the strength to function again.
She woke up bright and early and skipped down to the kitchen where she was met with her father sipping his morning coffee.
"Mornin' dad," she yawned, pouring herself a cup of coffee. When her father didn't even acknowledge her presence, she rolled her eyes and continued into the living room.
"Lauren, what are you doing up this early? You don't have school for a few hours," her mother, Clara, asked as she made her way downstairs.
Taking a seat on the couch, Lauren sipped her coffee.
"Yeah I just thought it'd be nice to start my day off by relaxing a bit before school. Make my day less stressful, y'know?" Lauren explained, her mother nodded.
"Well it's good you're up early because I need you to make a run to the post office on your way to school," Clara stated rather than asked.
"The post office? Why?" Lauren sat up and her mom quickly handed her some envelopes.
"I just need you to drop some letters off there really quick," she started. "and do not forget because they're important letters." Lauren nodded and took the letters.
Once her mother left the room, she studied them for a moment. The envelopes were just plain business-looking ones except for one that caught her eye.
This one wasn't in the pile her mom handed her, though. It was sticking right out of the top of the trash bin next to the front door. Lauren walked over and picked it out of the garbage to study it closer. It looked as if it had already been opened. Her eyes widened when she realized what it was.
"Mom?!" she yelled, rushing in the direction her mother went.
"What is it, Lauren?" Clara appeared out of the office room.
"Where did you get this?" she held up the envelope.
"Lauren," Clara said in disbelief. "Were you digging around in the trash?" she reached for the letter but Lauren snatched it back. "Lauren Michelle," she held out her hand and shot her daughter a warning glare. "Give. Me. The envelope."
Lauren ignored her mother's wishes and proceeded to open the letter. She gasped as she read the words written on the paper.
"Lauren Jauregui, we are pleased to be able to welcome you into our graphic design program here at...NYU?!" Lauren squealed excitedly. "Mom! I got into NYU! Holy shit I can't believe I got in!" she jumped up and down like a kid on Christmas, nearly crying tears of joy.
Her mom looked less than impressed, though. Without a word, Clara ripped the letter from Lauren's hands and made her way to the kitchen to throw it in the trash can.
"Mom, what the hell?" Lauren appeared in the doorway of the kitchen, a mix of shock, anger and confusion on her face.
"You won't be needing that, Lauren," Clara said, looking to her husband, who was still seated at the table.
"But mom...it's NYU. A great school in the most beautiful, creative city. This is what I've always wanted to do and now I get to do it in New York," she paused. "Why aren't you happy for me?"
"You don't need that school, Lauren. You're a Jauregui. Both your mother and I graduated from the University of Miami. You've gotta keep it going," Mike, her father, said. Placing an arm around his wife.
Lauren's face was a mixture of anger and disbelief as she stormed out of the kitchen and upstairs to her room.
She slammed her bedroom door shut and fought back the tears that were threatening to fall. Taking a deep breath and quickly composing herself, she went to get ready for school. Being sure to completely shut out her parents, Lauren managed to slip out the front door a short fifteen minutes later, 'accidentally' forgetting those letters her mom asked her to send.
