I usually liked letters that began with a Congratulations! 947
It was on my acceptance letter to NYU. It was on my awarded scholarships letter. Letters that began with a Congratulations! were a good thing. 49
I nod, slowly, as I stare at the letter in front of me. "This is a good thing." My hands are trembling, making the letter shake so I set it on the counter and pace around the kitchen. 17
Not the kind of good I liked rather the kind of good you know you have to do but don't want to, like when you know you have to clean your bedroom but you'd rather lay in bed and watch TV. Or when you know you have to do your homework but you want to go watch that one movie that just came out. That kind of good. The kind that has a good result but there's a sacrifice to it. 131
In my case, a huge sacrifice. 6
"Emily?" 37
I look up and realize that Derek, my roommate is looking at me. "Yeah?" I say reaching for the letter quickly. 136
"Are you alright?" he says eyeing me with his pitch black eyes. 166
"Yeah." I repeat, nodding. "Just tired, I'm going to take a nap." I announce making my way to my room. +
I met Derek at the beginning of my junior year in NYU which was almost two years ago, considering I am on my last semester of college. We decided to move in together at the end of the year after becoming good friends. Living with him hasn't been a problem so far, he's a good guy. We live in a two bedroom apartment and share the bills. +
I go to my room and shut the door then lay on my bed and stare at the ceiling. I have three exams this week along with a ton of homework to do and I couldn't bring myself to start studying. A few months ago, I received the worst news I could possibly receive. My dad had a heart attack. My family lives in Arizona, where I was born, but I came to New York for my career because the school offered me a full scholarship so I couldn't even see him. 230
My mom didn't tell me until he was out of danger but that didn't make me feel any better. Ever since that day, my father has been sick and my mom had to work more in order to be able to pay the house bills, leaving my little sister in the hospital with my dad. She is a sophomore in high school so she goes whenever she gets out of school so my dad is not alone. 51
I've thought about leaving. 7
A lot of times. 3
one to make enough money to be able to buy my parents a house. The reliable one. And I'm here, useless, unable to do anything to help. Part of me wants to pack my bags and go home and the other part of me knows I
clean the tear that was rolling down
have enough money to send them and help my mom. So while I'm here, trying to finish my education, my dad is drowning more in debt with the hospital. Soon, they're not going
didn't think it would be this hard to be
begins to ring, making me jump. "Hello?" I
"Emily, it's Elizabeth." 127
relieved it's not my mom with bad news. "Oh! I totally forgot we were
okay. I'm outside, take your
room, so I head out, lock the door and get in Elizabeth's car. It's a sunny afternoon but still a sweater day in New York. Being from Arizona, I didn't like the cold but it kind of
easily be sisters and looking at her, I can see why. We both have long, brown wavy hair, brown eyes, fair skin. I guess we
okay?" she asks me.
I sigh. "No."
me over lunch, right now I need
I laugh. "Same." 43
on a corner that we always
asks me after we order.
know I haven't talked to mom since last week." I reach for the letter in the
Program has been accepted. You may now proceed to step two..." she reads the rest in her head before looking up at
right? I've never had a baby, I've never even had sex, for god's sake!" I
her hands on her table. "This is obviously a really serious
my coffee. "This is a good thing, right? My parents-they need the money. They really need it."
puts her hand on top of mine. "Emily, this is a big decision. You have
which was a fact. One of them brought up stripping as a way to make a lot of money while the other one brought up surrogacy. Of course, I had heard about it. How