It's finally here! You look down at the envelope with your top college choices name on it, and tentatively you open the envelope to find...that your future dreams and hope vanish with one sentence: 'We are sorry but we cannot accept you at this time, please look into these other options...' Your hands fall to your lap, still, unlike moments ago when they shook with excitement. This was your only wish, to get into your mothers alma mater. To make her pound as she looked down from the clouds. You begin cycling back, remembering all the times you could have done better in high school. How you could have studied for that test more, or stayed after class to talk to your teachers, or do every single extra cricket assignment. You feel like a failure. You feel lost once again. Whelps of wet paper begin to form on the letter, the salty tears from your eyes flow softly, quietly. You question the universe, ask it why could it be so cruel. First you take my mother, then you take the only thing that remains of her...her spirit for the school she loved and her hopes for her children to do there one day. You had just wanted to make her proud, but the university  doesn't take pride as a form of academic success.

All of a sudden you hear the rusty old truck slam outside, you quickly wipe the tears, sniff up the ugly crying snot, and put on a smiling face. You always act happy around your father to try and keep his spirits up. You try and play this role but as soon as he walks through the door, it's obvious he can feel the stiffness in the air. The raise of his eyebrow as he stares at you, putting down his cooler and jacket from the long day at work. You imagine he can see your puffy red face, and the fake smile plastered on with glue. 'Hey sprinkles, what's going on?', he asks you sincerely, using your childhood nickname. You see him glance at the table, where the envelope and letter sit. He nods, knowing right away of the news that arrived today. He walks over to you and embraces you in a huge bear hug. You break down instantly. Soon enough you are both on the floor, tears falling, arms intertwined. 'She's still proud of you sprinkles, no matter what happen. She will always love you...' And for the first time in a long time, you believe whole heartedly.