I receive
a letter
in the mail
from the college
Cadence
will be
attending.
I haven't
been paying
much attention to
college mail
because most of it is,
"Join our
school!"
and,
"We think
you'll be
a great fit
for our
university!"
Jeff convinces me
to open
this one
and it's a
miracle
I didn't just
toss it
like I've
been doing.
Everyone in
the kitchen
(Quiana,
Mom,
and Jason)
goes quiet
with anticipation
as I
peel open
the sticky fold.
I place
the envelope
down on
the table
and unfold
the letter.
I read
the first sentence
aloud that
announces
that I have
been accepted
but pause
when I see
what's next.
I drop
the letter,
my whole body
shaking.
Jeff
is the closest
so he
picks it up
and his face
glows as he
tells the others
I have received
a scholarship
that covers
tuition alone
for
eight
semesters.
Which means
I only
need to pay
for room
and board
and textbooks.
Which is
still a lot,
but this
scholarship
puts a serious
dent in
my fees.
Mom cries
and demands
a picture of
me and
my letter
and doesn't
even wait
for me to
stop shaking
like I
just got off
a roller coaster.
Excitement
and accomplishment
and terror
rush through me
and I
collapse
but this
doesn't dampen
Mom's elation.
She gets down
and lays on
the kitchen
floor with me
and babbles
excitedly
until I
can get back up.
I'm going
to college.
I don't know
how to
feel.
YOU ARE READING
Remember; You Have the Universe
Teen FictionCover by kyromaniak Everyone wants to be different. I just want to be like everybody else. ---- Seventeen-year-old chronically ill Emma has traded dreams of flying into space for, "Support Therapy," aka, "The Dying Kids Group," and Student Council...
