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By the time we reach home, I’ve calmed down, my mom holding me close to her.
“Is there anything I can do?”
I’m about to say no when something comes to me. “Actually, yes.”
She looks at me, expectant, as a buzzing resonates in my chest. “I would like you to help a friend of mine. He’s looking at a career in art. He’s a painter.”
“Of course, sweetie. Anything.”
My mom has enough contacts in the art world to make or break anyone.
“That friend of yours,” she says softly. “Do you plan on seeing him anytime soon?” Of course, she knows exactly who I mean.
I shake my head. “Not until I’ve learned to fully love myself.”
EPILOGUE
ALEXANDRA
Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince – Taylor Swift
Three months later…
“Happy birthday!” Ella screams as she runs into the lake house. I suffocate in her arms, the fuchsia balloons she’s holding bumping against my head. Behind her, Peach walks in carrying a huge, white-frosted cake.
“If it’s not chocolate, I’ll kick you out,” I announce as Ella lets me go.
“Chocolate with vanilla frosting. Boring like your ass,” she laughs.
I turn around and slap my ass. “This ass is anything but boring.”
“Fine, you win. Your ass is great. Happy birthday, bitch,” Peach cheers.
“Is your mom here?” Ella asks politely.
“Kitchen. Come.” I take the cake from Peach and lead them to the kitchen. We like being by the lake, so we stayed. Mom is using the insurance money to rebuild the old house, but she doesn’t want to live in it anyway, so she’s going to sell it.
She’s been enjoying our extended retreat at the lake. Especially since Vincent is keeping us company.
“Hi girls,” Mom greets them. “I’m so glad you’re here to celebrate Alex. Can you believe my baby is turning nineteen?”
I roll my eyes, pretending to be annoyed.
“She’s so focused on her studies, we barely see her anymore,” Peach pouts. “Us turning up here was the only solution.”
Since changing my major from politics to early childhood education, I’ve loved my studies so much that I always have my nose in a book. My friends are used to seeing me study all the time, but not enjoying myself, so they try not to distract me.
During the Christmas break last year, Xi Ep sent us to volunteer with children from vulnerable backgrounds. I was at a community center on the North Shore, spending the holidays helping kids with their homework and organizing activities for them. That’s when I fell in love with the job.
I found my true calling spending time with those little babes and took the initiative to change my major as soon as I returned to SFU. My mom fully supported me and I’m now on my way to becoming an elementary school teacher.
“You’re so dramatic,” I tell Peach.
“If I was dramatic, would I be here today? No, I would be mad at you.”
There’s a short pause, and they all look at me, clearly expecting something from me.
“What?” I ask, clueless.
