An Eye for Art

Chapter Five

Brown University: the place where I would be spending the next four years of my life. My parents desired the best for me and wanted me to do better than they ever did with their life. My father would have been ecstatic if he could have witnessed me reading the long-awaited acceptance letter. Just knowing I had aimed for a school as prestigious as Brown would have made him proud.

My mom and I carried boxes into my dormitory, Emery hall. I was on floor 2. We took the elevator to my floor and hefted the boxes to the room.

"Oh my gosh, sweetheart. This is it! We get to see your dorm room!" my mother squealed. I smiled at her excitement. Opening the door, we explored the tiny room. The walls and floor were all concrete with two wooden beds on opposite walls, two tall wooden dressers, and two wooden desks in the middle.

"Well, at least you'll be able to decorate it." My mom said, looking on the bright side.

"Yeah. I'm sure it'll feel a lot cozier once we get everything situated. It'll feel less like a prison." We exchanged grins and laughed about the whole situation. The room's design didn't faze us. I was here, at an ivy league school.

We finished gathering the rest of the boxes out of the car and brought them to the room.

"So." My mom placed her hands on her hips. "Can I stay to help you unpack or is that a bit much?" I licked my lips and shook my head.

"You can help me unpack."

"Sweet!" My mom made a fist and jerked it with enthusiasm. My mom started with making the bed, and I started situating my clothes. Shirts went on hangers, pants in one drawer, shorts and skirts in another, and socks and underwear went into their own as well. We unpacked supplies, books, and hygiene products and organized them into tiny bins that went on the shelves in my dresser. I hung up a starry night tapestry with fairy lights around my side of the room. I was going all out with my decorations, and I held not an ounce of regret. Placing a circle-shaped rug, the room was complete, my side, anyways.

"It looks ten times better in here, sweetheart," my mom chirped. I nodded. Clapping her hands together, my mom gazed at me with puppy eyes. "One last lunch?" I chuckled.

"Mom."

"Oh, I know I know. This is all you, darling," she sighed, "I just can't believe you're here." She placed her hands on the side of my shoulders and smiled. "You're my baby girl, and it's a little hard to let go. I don't know how far Ohio is from here but you're miles away from me. Give your mom a break." Tears started to well in her eyes as she pulled me into a hug. "I am so proud of you, Adilene. I know your father would be too." This was the worst part of it all: saying goodbye to my mom. She was my world, especially after the incident. How could I go on without her?

"It's okay, mom. I'm always a call away." I said, my heart cracking as I held her tightly and leaned my head on her. My body felt fuzzy at all the emotions in the room.

Laughing, she wiped her eyes. "Yeah. Yeah, you are. Alright! I think it's time." We made our way back to the car, and the tears broke free from the dam my eyes had. We exchanged one last hug, and, this time, I wasn't ready to let go. My mom chuckled at my resistance to letting her go. Pulling away, she took my hand in hers and kissed it gently.

"Remember," she began, "I'm always a call away." I nodded my head because words couldn't escape my lips. My mom walked to the car and waved at me as she hopped into her seat. The seconds until she drove off were agonizing and flew away as quickly as they came. Now it was just me. What now?

With no idea of how to proceed from here, I headed back upstairs. Opening the door, I saw my roommate setting up inside. She instantly looked up at me and smiled.