Comeback

Now

I don't let my past define me. "No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path."

Most kids in their free time got to play with their toys and electronics, but I didn't have that. All I had was my school stuff and my mom always told me I could make a better life for myself than she did. For my mom I was her legacy, her whole life revolved around making sure that I was ok. That's why I knew I had to do something great and make her proud.  So I studied from the moment I came home to the moment I went to bed everyday. Even though this may seem like a depressing childhood, all that studying led to me becoming Valedictorian of my high school. For college I never planned on relying on my mom to help me, I knew she had done everything she possibly could for me. Thankfully colleges were quick to see my credits and grades, not to mention the financial aid they were willing to give me. 

I had many choices of colleges but I couldn't be too far away from my mom. We had been through so much together and local colleges had great programs for my dream job.  From the moment my dad abused me I knew I wanted to do something with the law. I wanted to be able to stop dirtbags like my own father from ruining families like my own. No one should ever have to suffer to survive like my mom and I did. 

With my guidance councilor at school, who was also always there for me, we explored different career options and colleges that would support my career path. She was like my second mom who was there for me when my mom couldn't be. Every free period I had I was meeting with both for school and just to talk about how things were going. Sometimes they may seem too into your personal life, they are just there to help you. The first time I met Ms. Gina I was defensive as I thought she was getting too personal, but in the long run she really did get me through some really tough times that came my way. 

In the end I decided that my favorite career in law was a FBI investigator which NYU (New York University) offered a great program in. That way I would be less than an hour from where my mom was buying her first apartment for herself and I. I could still see her weekly and help her set up in her new home. She finally saved up enough money to buy a small little box like home for us, which is by far better than our car. It was homey and I could sleep there on weekends when I came home from college which is all I could ever ask for.

PRESENT TIME:

"Do you have to leave so soon sweetie?" My mom asked as I was packing any belongings I actually had for college. In total I had 2 small boxes which were mostly just books and old study textbooks and work. 

"Mom you knew this was coming at some point" I answered as I started taping up my boxes. 

"Yea but I didn't know that it would come so soon"

" I told you I'll come home every weekend. There's a reason I picked a school so close"

"I'm just so proud of you" she started, tears starting to roll down her face. "I know you didn't always have everything in life, but you truly found a way to get a future and a good life for yourself."

"Mom we haven't even started to drive to the school yet, save some of your tears for then" I answered trying to lighten up the mood some. I knew this was hard on her especially because after I left she would be all alone. 

"Fine fine, lets get you to school and settled. I really want you to have a good college experience. Maybe one day you can use your fancy job with all your money to get a little something for your old mom here."

"Of course mom and you have to make sure while I'm gone to start dating again. I don't want you to be all alone when I'm officially gone and moved on." I told her as we began our 30-45 minute drive (depending on traffic) to the college. 

"I'll just get a dog" she comically answered.

"Fine get a dog, don't start dating, I'll just start setting you up. I really don't think that you want that so." I chuckled. 

"I'll be fine, don't worry about me, just worry about yourself" she tried to put me at ease. "And please do not try to find your father, I know he is the reason you want to have a career in the law. It isn't in your best interests."

I knew this was a difficult discussion for her to have with me. "Unless a case comes up about him, I will not go looking for him. Trust me after we left him the first time I never wanted to see his face again. Honestly fuck him"

She laughed which was great. We never really talked about my dad, so its good to actually have some humor surrounding it. 

"Yes fuck him" she answered as we proceeded to sing along to Taylor Swifts Shake it Off. My mom has honestly always acted just like a teen and just like my best friend, which she honestly was. 

After singing and jamming out for what felt like 30 seconds we arrived at the campus. 

We were greeted my smiling faces of people waiting to show you to your new room, and to welcome you. I handed them my boxes which were already labeled with my dorm and room number so they could easily bring them up for me. They clearly thought I was pretty weird with my 2 small boxes but I was used to it. 

I had always had the oldest things and smallest amount of things at my school. And I was never able to invite anyone over either. I was always an outsider, which I was hoping I wouldn't be at this new school. 

"Lets make this quick sweetie before I break down" my mom said as the tears started to roll down her face. 

I hugged her; " I'll see you Saturday mom, that's only 5 days away, I promise I won't be a stranger" I whispered.

"This is a hard goodbye honey but I know we'll always be close ok, its just hard to know that I won't be seeing you everyday" she said as she started to cry even more. 

"You coming" someone asked me, wanting to show me to my room and get me settled.

"Alright sweetie its time" my mom concluded probably the hardest moment of her life next to seeing my dad hit me and us leaving. 

"I love you mom" I said as tears started to come down my face.

"Goodbye"  she said as she started up her car to leave. 

"Goodbye mom" I said as I walked over to those wonderful smiling faces. It almost seemed fake but I was honestly hoping that people here were just that happy. It would be nice to make a whole new life for myself and hopefully in the future after I make some money, to make a new life for my mom who had done everything for me. 

"Welcome" one of those smiling faces who's name I learned later was Leila welcomed me to NYU, as she proceeded to show me to where my new room for the next four years would be. 

And that was the start of my college experience.

Author's Note: 

I HOPE EVERYONE ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER. THE DIALOGUE STARTED IN THIS CHAPTER AND I PROMISE THERE WILL BE MORE AND CHAPTERS WILL GET LONGER. I WILL TRY TO UPDATE WEEKLY BUT I CAN'T PROMISE ANYTHING AS SCHOOL SOMETIMES CAN TAKE UP A LITTLE MORE TIME THAN I LIKE. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO IS READING MY STORY AND I HOPE YOU LIKE IT ENOUGH TO RECOMMEND IT TO SOME FRIENDS.  PLEASE DO CONTINUE TO READ, VOTE, AND PLEASE DO COMMENT. EVERY LITTLE THING YOU GUYS DO REALLY DOES MEAN THE WORLD TO ME. WELL OVERALL JUST THANKS FOR EVERYTHING. 

YOURS TRULY- SOPHIE LACK