June 13th 2010-

Jessica sat in her bedroom flipping through her high school yearbook. She thought to herself, "how could it go by so fast? Wasn't it just yesterday that I was walking down the freshman halls?"

Graduating gave Jessica happiness that she hasn't had since her father died just a month ago. It brought happiness to her family. No one was really the same, but the day she graduated it was the first time everyone smiled. Her mother was better then she was, her and Jessica still never really got along, but Jessica still wasn't the same. She still cried constantly through the night and didn't want anyone's company.

As she flipped through the year book. She came across the best and worst section.

She looked at the pictures then came across best couple. It was a picture of her and her high school sweetheart Daniel Huston. Her and Daniel were also slowly beginning to drift. He thought that she would be staying in Minnesota for college, but she had other plans in mind.
**

A few hours later Jessica went downstairs. She slid on her flip flops and grabbed her keys.

Dorthy and her thirteen year old brother sat on the couch watching old movies.

"Where are you heading?" Dorthy says lifting up her head.

"I was going to go to the park for a little bit."

"Oh! Can I go?" George says

"No, I want to go alone."

"You do everything alone! Come on Jess!"

"No George!"

"Be safe." Dorthy smiles

"K."

As Jessica walked outside the mailman was heading towards their house. Jessica ran to him and smiled.

"Is it here?" She smiles

"Today's your lucky day Ms. Lange. NYU!" He smiles handing her the stacks of papers.

Jessica looks at him and smiles. "Thank you!" She says giving him a hug.

"Best of luck Ms. Lange." He says walking off.

Jessica drops the mail and holds the NYU letter in her hand. She stares at it and looks at her name.

"This is it Jessie. This is your chance." Jessica says to herself.

She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes.

She begins ripping the envelope and unfolds the paper.

She stops for a moment then begins to scream.

She drops her purse and runs back inside.

"I got it!" She yells

"Jesus Jessica! I'm trying to watch a movie." George pouts.

Dorthy sits up and looks at Jessica.

"Acceptance letter for UMN?" She says enthusiastically.

"Better! I'm going to NYU mama!" Jessica hands Dorthy the letter. Dorthy's smile slowly begins to disappear.

"Oh Jessica. You don't actually think you are moving a thousand miles away to a city you barely know. Come on, be reasonable."

Jessica's heart sank and she looked at her mother.

"Mom, this is a once in a life time opportunity. And you don't have to pay a penny! I'm going."

"Jessica, this is crazy!"

"You aren't even happy for me." Jessica says ripping the paper out of Dorthy's hand.

"Honey, you are just a teenager. That city is so dangerous. It's better you just go to college close to home like your sisters."

"Mom! You can't let me not go!" Jessica's eyes fill with tears.

"We will discuss this another day."

"Mom! No!"

"Jessica Phyllis Lange. You are not moving!"

"I hate you! I'm not like Jane and Ann. I want to get out of here. I want to leave!" Jessica says

Dorthy stares at her and tilts her head.

"Dad would want this for me. You know it. This is my dream, my future, my life. You can't hold me back from that. You're being selfish."

"Me? Selfish? You're the one that wants to leave. Your whole life I've done so much for you. I ask you one thing, to stay here."

"But you never supported me in anything! Because I was "different" well fuck you. I'm sorry that I'm not your ideal idea of a 'perfect' daughter."

"Damn you Jessica! Go, do it, leave! Get out. It's not like I'll notice anyways. Don't come crawling back to me when you are lost in that city. I won't answer." Dorthy says

Jessica looks at Dorthy then turns around.

"Fine. I'll leave."

As Jessica runs up the stairs and Dorthy let's out a sigh.

"Why would you say that to her? You can never be happy for her." George rolls his eyes and sits up.

"George..."

"Jessica needs this. You don't understand. You're being the selfish one."

George runs upstairs and slams his door.

Dorthy softly cries and looks at her wedding picture.

"I can't do this alone. I need you Al. What did I just do?"

**