Focus

“If we could only focus on what is right in front of us, I know we could figure this out.”  I stared at the college application in front of me and tried not to panic.  I wasn’t sure if college was for me, but college was definitely for my parents. 

I wondered how often I could forget to mail in applications before my parents found out.  So far they seemed to be oblivious, but I knew there was more to the two of them than met the eye.  I knew enough to have another email account and another Instagram account my parents didn’t know about.  I could only pray my sisters wouldn’t rat me out. 

Ashley was usually solid, it was Amber I needed to worry about.  Amber was the one who thought college was necessary and spent her Friday nights studying.  Ashley studied and made good grades, but partied more than anyone would believe.  She just hid it very well.  She was the only one who knew how I wanted to abstain from college. 

I knew what I wanted.  My parents knew exactly what I didn’t want to do.  What they didn’t know was the plans I had.  The plans to leave town and change my name.