APTER THR

Will

ilence that hung in the air. It felt unsettlingly empty. "Mo

ly scanned the living room. The usual clutter- stacked papers, shoes by the door, and family ph

s fine. But deep down, my instincts were churning. As I moved cautiously through the house, ch

ea. Curious, I picked it up, recognizing my mother's handwriting immediately. My

I could feel my hands

t everything, and I'm afraid I can't stay anymore. I can't afford the money for your college education

ing to absorb the meaning behind each line. I felt a mix of anger, sadness, and utter confusio

te tightly in my hands. I felt like my entire world had shifted beneath

hard we had both worked. And now, just like that, everything felt like it was falling apart.

thought leaving was her only option. It wasn't just her future that mattered; it was mine, too. I wanted t

fight for what I wanted. It wouldn't be easy, but I wouldn't let my mother's departure define my

allow this to be the end; it was just the beginning of something new. I had to figure things

e step felt

××××××××××

of pay I thought my hard work deserved, but it was better than staying at home and feeling sorry for myself. I alway

omer. I swear, if I had seen him before he did, I would have hidden from him, considering he always seize

" he said to me the mom

t raced a little, not because of him, but because all I

grades you had, you would be in college already. I guess

e so rude? I might not fit in with his crow

d hard in my ear, and that annoyed me. But nothing was going to stop me from working hard to save for college

y, my juggling act of jobs has taken over. I decided to visit her the next day since I had nothing to do a

d to him immediately after High School, and now, she already had a

face lit up. "Nadia! Finally! I was starting to thin

?," I asked,

ked, surprised

ponded, my eyes

o worry about," she assured me. "I missed

ing a deep breath, immersing myself in he

ozy couch, a soft blanket thrown over us. Her room was filled with posters

half-hearted smile, acutely aware that I was missing out on so much joy by being s

een, and a flutter of curiosity filled me. "Let me check this

voice from the other end.

to keep my voice steady, but

rom All High Colle

e faded as my mind raced back to the day I submitted my application, hope tangl

dies at our prestigious college. Congratulations, Nadia," he said in that f

pped, and for a moment, I felt like I had floated right out of my body.

ike you just saw a ghost," Jas

College, Jasmine!," I said to h

" she asked, leaning closer, h

ve it. Is this really happening? Isn't it beautiful?" I asked, my eyes shining with the thrill of it all. My heart ra

d see her trying to process what th

.

ia'

din had done to her, they were together now. Whil

d through my bag, with a hand, careful not to lift my eyes of

is

gravelly voice said. A voice I thoug

ook but I managed to ask, pretending t

st because you're done with highschool," another tone,

avigated the car around a corner. It was a wonder I wa

t admitted into? Baby girl, you're our possession and if y

g myself for the lie I was about to tell, "It's been eight

re sinister tone. "Remember when we told you that you can't breathe without us. Cannot do a fucking thing unless we deem it so? We were

with us and ge

o exactly did they think they were again? I had taken their ab

to the phone, "I've heard enough of both of you

to seeing you soon at All High College. We hope

ust as my left foot

scared to death even because my highschool bullies were

ack to torment

*