Title: Journey to a Greater Life
Prologue:
That summer had to have been the strangest of them all. Looking back, no one would’ve expected it, knowing what kind of person I was. To be honest, I didn’t expect it. It’s a long story, I’ll say. I mean, I definitely can’t sum it up in a conversation. However, it’s as clear to me as if it were yesterday. I remember every detail.
Chpt.1 Mother knows best:
I run as fast as I can, the wind blowing in my golden locks. Not looking back, not even looking forward at where I’m going. I realize this is a bad idea when I find myself face-to-face with a glass door. Talk about a face lift. I’m outside the library and decide to go inside. When I see that the coast is clear, I sit down to take a breather. Ah, the library. My favorite place to exist. So peaceful and quiet, nothing like back at home. All of a sudden, the librarian, Susan comes to approach me.
You should know that Susan is like another mother to me (just what I need, right?). I go to her for everything; boy problems, stress issues, and most importantly, mom. And we’ve been through this before.
“Rory, when are you finally going to stop running away from your problems?”
she asked me with her beady eyes staring down on me. I can never resist her and her eyes. Even though she is like a mother to me, that doesn’t necessarily mean my mother at home is doing her job correctly. My mother isn’t a bad mother; it’s just, she could be better. I feel like she uses me for her own benefit. When she was about 30 years old, she decided she wanted to join a circus act. It was so embarrassing growing up as a kid. My whole family living on a mobile circus train, going from place to place wasn’t enough for me. In fact, it was TOO much for me.
Others would say “adventure of a lifetime’, but I say,” I’ve been doing this for years and my mom never even applauds me at my hard work.” I’m startled when Susan says,
” Well, that’s the most I’ve heard from you since you started visiting me.”
I fake a little smile, and she can see right through me. After a long moment of silence, she decides to tell me,
” You and I both know your mom doesn’t really care about your opinion on the circus thing,”
I try to interrupt her and tell her all about mom and what she’s done, but she stops me and says this,
” but we can’t change that. If we could I would have a long time ago. So you know what, if you ever feel like you need someone who’ll listen, you know where to go.”
She’s surprised when I immediately fire back,
” I’m 16 going on 17. When do you think enough is enough? I can’t keep avoiding my confrontations with mom and coming to you for help! I need to be me, and find out what “being me” exactly means. Can you please understand that?”
Apparently I stood up sometime in this rant, and by this point all eyes in the library were on me.
“Susan…I, I….”
I try to stutter an apology out, but Susan was already walking back to her desk. I try to ignore all the glances I get as I follow Susan to her desk. She was doing something with paperwork, obviously just coming up with some random thing to do to avoid me.
“Susan.”
I say, as I put my hand on her shoulder, waiting for eye contact. She looks up at me, with an unreadable look on her face. Then again, I never was good at reading people. Susan is a beautiful woman. She has straight brown hair that comes to shoulder-length and has gorgeous blue eyes that no human being could resist. I could tell she was holding back tears. Had I really made this innocent woman cry? I know I must’ve hurt her. After all, Susan was single (surprisingly) with no kids, and it has been that way for a while. She told me time and time again how much she loved me, and thought of me as her own daughter. Saying that was like breaking my mother’s heart. My mother that cares, I should say. I finally decide to break the ice and say,
“I didn’t mean it like that. You know that, right?”
Susan says,
“No, you’re right. You are completely right about everything you said. Maybe you could’ve said it a little nicer though…”
Susan gives a little chuckle. That’s what I love about Susan; she is so willing to forgive and forget, even when something’s really hurt her. She never holds a grudge on anyone. And she can just turn really tough moments into something to laugh about.
I give a slight laugh. There is a long pause, and I think it’s my turn to say something. But Susan beats me to it when she says,
“So, what are you waiting for?”
I reply, “What are we talking about?”
“Ok, so you’re seriously going to tell me that you gave that whole big speech about having to face your mom, and find out what “being you” means, and now you’re just going to sit here like a confused oaf.” Susan says.
“So you’re saying that…” I say a little unsure.
“GO! Go, and find yourself. I’m not going to tell you what to do anymore… From now on, I’m just your friend; you make your own decisions. Now go! I believe in you, Rory.”
She says. And I could tell that that was hard for her to say, though she puts on a supportive smile.
I’m shocked at this point, and I have nothing to say. It was as if before I had everything to say, but now, all of that has just vanished, and all that’s left to do is say goodbye. I lean in and hug Susan. Now, tears are streaming down my face. I’m questioning whether or not I’m ready for this, but then I remember how brave Susan was, and the least I could do is to follow in her lead.
I hold in the rest of my tears, as their pounding at my lids to come out. I take short strides towards the door. It feels like the walk to my death; never-ending, and resulting in nothing good. I finally reach the handle, and take on last look back.
----------------Thanks so much for reading! Tell me what you think in the comments... Vote if you liked! And tell me if you want me to keep you updated on when I'll post my next chapters(: Thanks again! LANEY---------------------------------------
