Rain pounds on the window glass accompanied by constant deep rumbles of thunder. Lightning strikes dramatically, lighting up the papers like a scene out of a horror movie.
Was this our mail for the day or were these materials for their books?
Do I dare hope? Maybe this is it. This could be what I’ve been waiting for.
My shallow breaths mismatch my long strides toward the table, my heart thudding painfully against my ribcage. I inhale a deep breath to steady my shakinghands and grab the stack of mail. I sift through it slowly, tears welling up from overwhelming disappointment as each unremarkable folder and envelope drag me further from my dream.
About to lose hope, I shuffle through them faster until I reach the last one, a large manilla folder with a return address to Charle’s College. All the other rejections were small letters or short emails. Dare I dream? Did I get accepted into Charle’s?
My feet pound up the staircase in a hurry so I can be alone in case my parents walk in. I want this moment to myself so I can process the outcome in my own way.
I sit at my computer desk, intently studying the folder in my hand. The rough wavy edges reveal it was caught in the rain more than a few times, drying over and over again.
My shaking index finger slides under the folder’s opening on the left side and slowly drags it to the right to avoid a paper cut. The stack of white papers idly waits for me to make my move since no words yet show my fate.
Deep breath.Either way it’s going to be okay. I’ll be okay.
If only I could believe myself…
My fingertips clasp onto the paper’s top edges and pull.
Congratulations Charlotte Windsor,
You have been accepted to Charle’s College for the academic class of 2030.
Welcome!
I didn’t even bother reading the rest before screaming, “YES!” My arms swing and my knees practically hit my chest as I jump up and down, unable to contain the excitement while the papers, still in my grasp, flail wildly.
A sigh of relief escapes.
I’m not a failure. Thank God.
I immediately grab my phone and text Ben.
Coming to a standstill, I try to catch my breath as I watch three little dots appear in the text message chain.
Eek!
I press the phone close to my chest and close my eyes, rolling my lips in to contain the overwhelming emotions pouring out of me.
Yes. This is worth celebrating. I rarely make a big deal out of things, but he’s right to remind me that I deserveto celebrate this. This is huge. And now it’s confirmed Ben and I won’t be going to college too far away from each other so we can still hang out and have future celebrations. Charle’s is only thirty minutes away from Wyvern.
Before I can text back what I intended to, something else came out of its’ own free will. Something I’ve never dared ask him straight out.
Oh God. What did I just do?
My breath hitches, my eyes widening at the words on the screen. I hurl my phone on the bed like a hot potato and back away in horror.
Why did I send that? Why did I type that? I’ve never asked him straightforward questions about his relationship. Why do I suddenly care right now?
My phone landed face down, inhibiting me from seeing if he was typing back. With one arm crossing around my waist, holding my other’s elbow, my teeth nervously scrape against my thumbnail. But the bounce in my feet and sharp bite against my nail is doing nothing to starve off this awkward, nervous energy.
Gah! It’s like the phone’s calling to me, telling me to pick it up. I want to look but I also don’t want to look.
Should I go downstairs to distract myself and then lie to him by saying my parents came home so that’s why I didn’t respond for a while? That way I completely avoid an entire conversation about his relationship?
The front door shuts downstairs and my parents’ voices travel up the staircase. I guess it wouldn’t be a complete lie…
