River's Walk

Prologue

8 months prior

My eyes begin to blur, my heart accompanying with rapid beats as soon as I walk through the dark oak front door of my house, my mother gripping an envelope in her hands, her eyes burrowed, and angry lines appearing above the bridge of her nose on her forehead. I haven't seen her this angry in a couple months, and the lump in my throat rises. I had only walked in the door one second ago, but her anger was clear as day, the room erupting with hot tension and dirty looks.

"What is this!?" She demands, her voice booming louder than needed and I squint my eyes and wince, the lump in my throat now constricting my mouth from forming any words.

"Medical school is what you are applying for, not botany" she screams again, her voice flooded with anger, forcing tears to the surface of my eyes.

I quickly close the front door, keeping my bag and jacket in my hands, not wanting to linger in this room with her. I can feel her sparkling blue eyes drilling lasers into me as I don't answer her. I was really hoping the college application response, the one I was trying to hide from her at least, wasn't in her hands, but I knew it was. Taking a deep breath and attempting to swallow the lump in my throat, I try to calm my nerves and walk to reach for the envelope but her anger increases at my attempt, and I take another deep breath.

"Amelia May" She screams my name, my body instantly wincing at the loud noise booming through the cold living room. I involuntary wince, my hands gripping onto the straps of my bag roughly, my heart about to beat out of my chest.

I wasn't ready for this confrontation, my head beginning to spin at the spike in my anxiety clearly showing my horror, trying to swallow the lump again. Applying for botany school was supposed to be for fun, I knew it couldn't happen- but now my biggest nightmare was happening in front of my eyes. The volcano was soon to explode.

"I know mom." I manage to answer, my throat dry and hoarse. My empty hand makes it's way to my chest, my hot fingers rubbing agaisnt the cool, metal locket around my neck, a small peace settling over me.

Her eyes burn harder into me, her hands gripping the envelope harder. Tears begin to stream down her face, along with her black mascara, leaving black drops rolling down her cheeks. I almost begin to feel sorry, feel bad for applying to something I love, going against her wishes, just because I knew how important this was for her.

"For once I wish you could just listen to me," She begins, the anger now laced between each word, spitting with venom, "Why can't you ever just shut up and not ruin things."

The lump in my throat now drops to my stomach, my body now shaking in shock and disbelief. I force myself to blink, the room now blurry in front of me. The sound of loud paper shredding brings my eyes back to normal, the envelope now ripped in half and thrown on the table. My eyes bounce between the stack and my mother. He hands on her hips, glaring at me.

Her prominent, manicured finger points to the large yellow envelope, her red nail matching the anger radiating off her body, "This," She pauses, "will never happen." She demands, crossing her arms over her chest, dominating over me. The pity I barely felt for her instantly vanishes at the reason for her tears, but I bite the inside of my cheek to withhold my anger.

"It wasn't a plan, it was just for fun." I explain, my voice tiresome and annoyed, instantly wanting to go to sleep.

I hear hear her scoff and I go to gather the trash, but she pushes my arm away at my attempt, the force of her push throwing me off. I leave my envelope on the table and decide to walk upstairs instead, wanting nothing to do with this conversation anymore. I grip my jacket and bag harder, turning back to look at her alarmed face at my dismissal as I walk into my room, lock the door, and lay on my cleanly made white and grey bed, holding my bag and jacket against me as I shut my eyes.

1 month later

My moms hands massage my shoulders, her harsh pressure causing a pit in my stomach. Her words have sunk in for a second, and a burning sensation in my eyes follow, but I bite the inside of my cheek to compose myself.

"So you understand why we think it's a good idea if you focus on your general studies for a year here before you transfer to medical school, right?" my mom asks me, in her chipper casual voice.

I nod my head, knowing there was no way around this. Neither of my parents brought up botany school again, but now I've realized they had been building a brigade for me, and I lay my head back on my bed again as she exists my room, the darkness of my eyelids closing calming me, my fingers once again making xontact with the gold locket lying against my neck as I doze into my thoughts.