Change

She went through high school the same way, taking care of her mother and the coffee shop. Her mother's health bills were exorbitant and took up most of the profits made from the coffee shop. This made her become withdrawn as she had no time to socialize. The other kids in school took her as a quiet girl with a kind of creepy mother. No one associated with her and that was the same till she left high school. She was always dressed in shapeless cheap clothes which were comfortable for her to work in after school.

During her final year in school, her mother got better. She started talking more, eating more and helping out in the shop. On her graduation day, they had a special quiet meal in an expensive restaurant to celebrate and things were looking up until a week after her graduation. She got back home from the coffee shop and met an empty house. "Mom!, I'm back", she shouted but got no reply. She went to her mother's room and saw a letter on the dresser.

"Vanessa, I'm sorry for leaving like this but staying here and seeing you everyday reminds me of how much of a burden I am. I was wasting away in this place and so I have decided to leave and start over in a new place. You should do what's best for you and not have to worry about me because I don't want to be a burden to you again. Stay safe. Love, Mom".

Vanessa couldn't sleep well for a week, she cried uncontrollably because finally, she was alone. She applied for college in a different state and sold their house and coffee shop. Then, she moved and never looked back.

Back to the present, two years after she moved. Vanessa was tired with the status of her life. She wanted change. She looked in the mirror and decided to live her life well. Her life was passing her by because she was still stuck in her shell. She wanted to make new friends, go out, have fun, experience new things and fall in love. She decided to take a step and do something different. She felt she was made for so much more than where she was at the moment. She wanted to leave in the moment and stop playing things safe.

Finally, she went back to bed and fell asleep.