romeo + juliet ↠ l.h

6

I stayed home Friday. My mom didn't make me go to school. She wanted me here where she could keep an eye on me, and she got what she wanted. I hadn't touched alcohol since that night.

My thoughts weren't cleared like I expected them to be. Instead, the bad ones were replaced with determination. I wanted to prove to myself and the people around me that I could do it. I didn't need to rely on drinking. It didn't have to be part of me.

Michael brought my schoolwork home for me. He told everybody I was home sick with the flu.

My day was mostly filled with Netflix and bubble baths. All my strength had returned, but I let on to be a little more well than I actually was. Fighting the urge wasn't easy. But I had to do it for my mom, for my dad, and for myself.

As the day came to an end, I lay in bed doing nothing in particular. Maybe losing myself in my thoughts.

I thought about my future and how much I had planned.

In less than 10 months, I'd be in California, pursuing my dreams. I wondered what my roommate may be like, or if I could join a sorority. I might live alone, off campus. I didn't know exactly, but I did know id be happy.

To cheer myself up, I thought I might read over my acceptance letter for the thousandth time.

I made my way towards the drawer I hid my most prized secret in, and opened it. I dug around through my pajamas, looking through every last inch of the drawer.

It wasn't in there.

I began freaking out, checking another time. And then another. But nothing changed, the letter was gone. I never ever forgot to put it back, and the only person who knew it's whereabouts was Michael. I began scavenging through every last drawer of my room, but only to come up empty handed.

"You're not gonna find it." My mom's voice from the doorway startled me.

"What do you mean?" I dared to question.

"Your letter. I know about it, Emma, and you should know better. We've talked about your future and college is not a part of it."

"What did you do?" I yelled. Surely she just threw it away, and I could fish it out of the trash.

But after that split second that I had hoped for the best, I knew she had done something horrible. I knew she had ruined my future, my chance for happiness.

"You don't need to worry about it. College was a silly thought anyways."

"Mom, what did you do?"

"I called, told them they shouldn't bother saving a scholarship for you. That you won't be attending. You should honestly thank me, I saved you the trouble of calling them yourself."

And with that she left.

•

I cried.

I sat on my bed and sobbed.

The one thing I wanted for myself, and my mom had to go and ruin it.

Forget getting into a college I worked so hard for, forget the countless hours spent editing my submission film. All of that gone because of 'family tradition'.