On Earth...

*(y/n)'s POV*

Out of all my years in college, Senior year was definitely a very stressful year for me. Especially taking a lot of art classes since I'm majoring into art to become an artist. I've worked so hard on getting successful grades during my Senior year.

After a week of studying, doing my final exam for my only class in Spring Term, Earth Science, and making sure that I'm on track for graduation, I can finally relax. No more going to classes for a whole week. I just hope that I passed my Earth Science class final exam since I struggled bit in the class a couple of times. I'll find out on Wednesday night about my final grade. It's my ticket to graduation.

It was close to six on a Sunday evening as I parked my 2014 Ford Expedition near my apartment building and gathered up all of my groceries. I was walking towards the stairs since my apartment was on the second floor until I heard, "Hello, (y/n)." I turned to left and saw my landlady, standing outside in front of her apartment, waving at me, with a cigarette in her hand. "Hey, Ma." I said, as I walked towards her.

Ma's my crazy landlady. She's a short old woman in her mid-seventy's who has a southern accent, wears handmade old-fashioned button-up dresses, wears bandanas like women in the 1940's wore them, and she's a daily smoker.

Why do the residents and I call her 'Ma'? Because it's short for her full name, Margaret Florence. But it's also because she seems like the motherly and grandmotherly type. Until she shows her shotgun to those she doesn't like or who don't pay their rent. But on the bright side, she's very sweet with me whenever I'm around.

"There's the girl who's graduating soon." Ma said. I laughed a little bit and said, "In a few days, Ma. I'm still waiting for my final grade from Earth Science." "Well, I'm still proud of you, deary." She said, as she smoked her cigarette.

"By the way, have you've been partying lately?" Ma asked. "Umm, no, I haven't been, Ma. I don't have any friends and I don't even party with people like that. I think it's the residents that live two doors away from me to my right." I said.

"Oh, those little pests. They keep me up at night with their noise and their bangin'. I oughta give them a piece of my mind. Anyway, I'm sorry to hear that you don't have any friends, darlin'." Ma said.

"I've been so busy with school, I barely had any time to make friends or even find my prince charming." I said. "Well, deary, that beef cake will show up one day. But here's a goal that you could do this week. Make some new friends." Ma suggested. That could definitely be a goal for me since I'm done with my Earth Science class. "I'll definitely keep that in mind, Ma." I said, as I was about to turn around and head up the stairs to my apartment.

But something came to my mind. "By the way, you haven't seen Paul around, have you, Ma?" I asked. "No, I haven't seen that boy around here, darlin'." Ma answered. I let out a sigh of relief. "Good. I'm glad." I said.

"Well, if that boy ever shows up and starts bothering you again, I'd be happy to go get my shotgun." Ma said, and, then, she smoked her cigarette. I shook my head and said, "Oh, no, Ma. I really appreciate you doing that, but that won't be necessary. I think I can handle it differently."

Then, Ma, gently, gripped my upper right arm. "(y/n), do old Ma a favor. If that boy ever comes back here and bothers you again, just call me. Alright?" She said. I nodded and said, "Alright, Ma. I'll be sure to do that. Well, I gotta go, Ma. I don't want my frozen dinners to melt." I said, as I was about to leave.

"Oh, wait, (y/n). I have something for you." Ma said, and, then, she reached into her left pocket and pulled out a small letter. "This was accidentally delivered to my doorstep." She added. "Oh, thank you so much. Could you set it in one of the grocery bags?" I asked. "Sure thing." Ma answered, and, then, she put the letter in one of my grocery bags. "Thanks again, Ma. I'll see you later." I said, and, then, I turned around and headed to the stairs. "Bye, deary." Ma said.

When I got to my apartment door, I set one of my grocery bags on the ground and I reached into my pocket to grab my keys. I pulled out my keys and I unlocked the door and opened it. I picked up the other grocery bag and I walked inside my apartment and kicked the door shut.

I walked over to my kitchen counter, set down my grocery bags, and I reached into the grocery bag that Ma set the letter in. When I pulled it out, I looked at the letter to see who it was from. I recognized the handwriting anywhere. "Aww. It's from mom." I said to myself, while smiling.

Then, I opened the letter and there was a card inside it. The card was graduation-themed and it was so cute. I opened the card and it said:

'(y/n), I can't believe college graduation is just around the corner. How time flies by so quickly. You're growing up so fast. I wanted to let you know that my plane lands on the morning of your graduation, but I'll make it before the ceremony. I can't wait to see you on graduation day. I'm so proud of you, (y/n).

Best wishes!

Love, mom

P.S. I talked with your father to see if he's coming. He told me he's not gonna make it. I'm so sorry. But he wanted me to tell you that he wishes you the best of luck.'

After I read the card, my smile faded and I shook my head in disbelief. "Oh, dad." I said, softly, while gritting my teeth a little bit. I was mad and heartbroken. My dad wasn't coming.

I'm an only child and I've lived with my mom all my life. My parents got divorced when I was five years old because my dad's a workaholic. He works as a well-known attorney. Ever since he got promoted as a top rated attorney, he barely ever came home. He was always too busy. He and my mom even got into arguments for as long as I could remember.

Then, one morning, I woke up and all of my dad's stuff was gone. My mom told me that he wasn't coming back. He moved to the city to be closer to work. A few days later, he and my mom signed the divorce papers. It broke my heart because not only my parents got divorced, but it was because my dad left me and my mom for his career.

My dad always broke promises and he has missed a lot of events and participations that I did that were very important to me. Like my singing recitals, art presentations, sporting events, and even my high school graduation. Now he's gonna miss my college graduation. I really wanted him to come. I missed him so much.

I set the card down on the counter and I started putting away my groceries. After I was done, I took out a frozen box of macaroni and cheese and I put it in the microwave. I set the timer, walked over to the couch, and sat down to wait for my dinner to be ready.

As I was reaching for the remote to turn on the TV, I heard something from outside. I got up from the couch and walked over to the living room window and looked to see who or what it was outside. All I saw were three guys walking by, laughing. I recognized one of them.

It was none other than Paul Dillard. He's a computer geek and an inventor with dirty blonde hair who's the same age as me and has a crush on me. But he's not my type, especially when he almost has a high-pitch voice. He and his geek friends stop by my apartment all the time to tease or beg me to go out with him.

"Not you again, you creep." I said, as I walked away from the window and grabbed a wooden baseball bat that I use for defense to scare Paul and his friends away. Then, I opened the door and I walked outside, holding the bat up.

"Paul, I swear, if you're here to ask me out again, I will—" I started to say, but to my surprise, Paul and his friends weren't around my apartment. "Huh. I guess he's not here to harass me today." I said to myself, as I was about to walk back inside.

But, then, I heard laughing and talking from a distance. It was definitely Paul and his friends. I had no idea what they were up to. So, I walked down the stairs and I headed to where Paul and his friends were.

When I was getting closer to the forest area that's near my apartment building, I could see Paul and his friends standing next to something. All I could see from a far distance was something that almost looked like a large casket and a moving white ball standing next to it, tangled in something.

What could it be?