I packed all my belongings into my worn out black backpack. I barely had anything, so my clothes and toiletries bag fit in it along with my laptop and other tech gear I stole from the University. I logged onto my laptop and paid for an Uber to take me to the airport.

I took a look back into the half pink, half barren dorm room, and laughed as I slammed the door, thankful that I will never step foot in there again.

I practically skipped through the deserted campus, an idiotic smile plastered across my face. I found my uber driver, and entered his Ford Focus. I relaxed and stared out the window, watching as Stanford slowly started to fade into the distance. I never left campus much except to get basic groceries, so I never got the chance to explore Pasadena. My heart filled with excitement knowing that I am now able to be free to explore the world without any financial worries.

When we arrived at the airport, I tipped the uber driver and felt a surge of energy. He smiled at my generous tip, and I was grateful that I had enough money to actually be generous.

Since I only had a carry on, I quickly made it through security. I had 2 hours before my flight, and decided to explore the shops. I walked into a boutique, and looked at all the beautiful garments. I've been in clothing shops before, but it's a whole different experience when you're able to actually buy something.

I looked down at my tattered black sweatshirt that I wore everyday for 7 years and my yoga pants that were littered with holes. I'm surprised my converse lasted as long as they have, seeing that they are 7 years old as well and have been wore everyday.

I looked around the shop and bought 5 new blouses, 3 winter jackets, 2 leather jackets, 6 new pairs of jeans, 3 more yoga pants, a pair of vans, Nike Free Runs, a pair of boots, and 2 pairs of booties. I was so use to wearing the same color everyday, that I only got everything in black.

My heart stopped when I saw the total: $1289.47. I handed her the card and felt relief wash over me as it was accepted immediately. It's going to take some time to break my scarcity mindset.

I changed into a black long sleeve shirt, black ripped jeans, my black Nike free runs, and threw on the comfortable leather jacket. I took my old clothes and shoved it in my backpack. I looked in the mirror and almost smiled. I looked incredible.

However said money can't buy happiness must have been one broke son of a bitch.

I still had an hour to spare before my flight, so I wandered the shops again. I stopped in front an overwhelmingly large make-up store. Curiosity got the best of me as I entered.

"Hi ma'am! How can I help you?" The assistant asked.

"Yeah. I have no fucking clue what I'm doing." I said as I looked around at the powders and brushes. I picked a brush up and examined it like it was going to explode at any moment.

"Of course you don't, you're drop dead gorgeous! You don't need makeup. But if you're interested in keeping your natural look, I have just the products for you." She smiled.

"Again, I have no fucking clue what I'm doing." I repeated to her, hoping she catches the hint that I've never worn makeup before in my life.

"Ahh I see. How about a makeover?" She asked sweetly. I hesitantly nodded. I followed the preppy assistant to a chair that she motioned for me to sit in.

It felt like she was ripping my skin off when she was tweezing the bushy mess I called my eyebrows. I looked at my red and swollen forehead and was surprised. A simple change made me look completely different, almost attractive.

Fuck a disguise and dying my hair, all I had to do was pluck my eyebrows.

She then curled my eyelashes and applied mascara to my long lashes. Since my lashes have been untouched, they brushed the bottoms of my eyebrows. She finished my look by applying some lip gloss. It took me a minute to get use to the matte sticky substance on my lips, but I enjoyed it eventually.

She patiently explained how to apply mascara to me, and I ended up buying it all as well as a face wash and some moisturizer.

I boarded my plane and took my seat. I leaned back in my chair and realized that this is the happiest I have been in my 20 years of life. This is the first time my clothes didn't have holes in them, and I was properly dressed for winter. This is the first time that I was able to afford the luxuries of makeup. This is the first time I had more than $100 in my bank account. This is the first time in my life I felt that I was actually worth something, that my self image existed.

This is the first time I felt this alive.

I closed my eyes and let sleep take over me as the plane accessed to Seattle.

*************************************************
"I'm so proud of you Rebel!" Mrs. Jones said to me as she practically suffocated me in a bone crushing hug.

"It was mainly because of you Mrs. Jones. Without you giving me those extra tutoring sessions, I would have never made it." I said. It was true, she went out of her way to tutor me for free for an entire year. My time at Whitmore was enjoyable because of Mrs. Jones, she mentored me not only in school, but in life. I always came to her office to talk and some days she even brought me lunch.

"Oh stop being modest. And please dear, call me Giana. You're about to graduate so enough with the formalities." She said cheerfully. "How's your Stanford application going?" She asked, her blue eyes gleaming with hope.

"They're going well. I never knew how much it would cost to actually apply to these programs, let alone the tuition." I said looking down at my converse.

"Oh darling, don't let that discourage you. I have many connections at Stanford. I'll be able to waive your entrance fee as well as put in a letter of recommendation for you." Giana said with a smile.

"Oh no Mrs. J- Giana, I wouldn't want to burden you like that...you've already don't so much for me." I admitted. I didn't feel worthy enough to have her put her name and reputation on the line for me.

"And I wouldn't want you to waste your future. You're gifted Rebel, and you have such an incredible life ahead of you." Giana said as she hugged me again.

"Oh before I forget," I said pulling out the laptop I borrowed on my first day 4 years ago. Giana looked at the laptop and shook her head.

"Keep it. Consider it a graduation gift." She said smiling at me before she pulled me into another hug.

************************************************

I woke up feeling refreshed, grateful that I didn't have a nightmare on this crowded plane. I couldn't help but laugh at the irony of my dream. Mrs.
Jones was the most influential mentor I've ever had. She was like a second mom to me. Giana has such high expectations and hopes for me, however, I don't think that using my "gifts" to steal $5 million from an Italian bank account was her ideal vision for me.

I shook off my emotions and grabbed my shopping bags and laptop and exited the aircraft.

I flagged down a taxi and had them take me to the best restaurant in town, Mange. Once we arrived, I ordered their Thanksgiving specials to go. As I waited while they prepared the food, I looked around the dim lit restaurant. It was elegant, every table covered with red table clothes that were decorated with candles and flowers. Art adorn the tall walls and soft jazz music flowed throughout the air. I use to walk past this restaurant everyday on my way to class.

I'd imagine what the food tasted like, and how it would be to go out to eat. We could only afford one meal a day: top ramen or canned beans. I even tried to dig in the dumpster once when I was 12. I just got out of class and felt too weak to walk the rest of the way home. I was so famished that I felt like I was going to pass out at any second. Unfortunately, I only found stale fries and rotten food.

I was taken out of my thoughts as the hostess held bags of food to me. I smiled as the delicious scent hit my nose. I tipped her, thanked her, and walked out to my awaiting taxi.

Next stop: St. Anderson's hospital.

Once we arrived, it was 10:00 pm. I quickly walked to the receptionist. I paid her bills in full as well as more of her medications, and her upcoming surgery. I even upgraded her treatment, spending much more than anticipated. Relief took over me know that she is going to be okay... that she has a chance to survive this. The receptionist then directed me to my mothers room. I took a deep breath before entering.

My mother looked like a ghost. Her vibrant skin turned pale. Her beautiful brown eyes were sunken in and her face looked thin, making her high cheek bones more pronounced. Her black hair was patchy and thin from the chemotherapy. Her eyes widened as she saw me enter.

"Hi mom." I said in a soft voice.

"Holy shit! Rebel is that you?" She said, attempting to sit up but was too weak to.

I placed the food and bags down on a table and rushed to help her.

"Yeah mom. It's me." I said supporting her back to sit her up.

"Jesus. Stanford has been good to you!" She laughed. She took my face in her hands and took in my appearance.

"My beautiful baby girl. You look so grown up." She said, her eyes beaming with pride.

"I brought you something." I said as I walked to the table and pulled out the food. The containers held turkey cooked and seasoned to perfection. It also had garlic mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, cranberry sauce, gravy, and chocolate cake.

I cleared my mothers table, and set it all up for her. Her eyes widened as she took in the feast set before her.

"Honey, what is this? There's no way we can aff-" she started her voice slightly raising and her heart rate increasing.

"Shhh... it's my treat. Your payments are cleared and I wanted to have our first time eating out to be together." I said with a small smile.

"Rebel, how did you get that kind of money? Oh dear God please tell me you aren't stripping." She said tears pooling in her eyes.

A stripper. Really mom?

I pushed back my annoyance that her first thought was a stripper instead of an internship or a career. She was crying hysterically... that can't be good for her condition... or my mental state.

"No mom I got a new job. It pays extremely well and they gave me an advance so I can pay for your medical bills." I lied. She didn't need to know the truth. What she didn't know, won't hurt her.

"Oh thank God. That's incredible honey." She said calming down. "I'm so proud of you!" She said wiping a tear from her eye.

"It's okay mom. Let's eat, I'm hungry as fuck." I said as I opened my containers.

"Watch your damn language young lady." She said, pointing a plastic knife in my direction.

"Happy Thanksgiving Mom." I said before I shoved garlic mashed potatoes in my mouth.