It was my first step toward freedom, and even if it seems silly, I felt like an entirely new person. Mom wouldn’t have approved.Įvery time my short-cropped hair tickled my cheeks, it reminded me that I was finally allowed to be me. For the first time in years, I kept my own natural wave. No more long, blonde tresses: Now my cheeks were framed with unruly brown fringes. So that’s why my first act as a college student had been to hit up the nearest beauty salon for a drastic cut and color. I had to be perfect little daughter-or at least look the part. I could flash a charming smile practically at the touch of a button. My hair was colored to fade into the perfect golden ombré, and I wore only the best labels. To my parents, appearances were everything. The past nineteen years had been so damned suffocating. Now I could start my own life, do things the way I wanted. It was the only thing that had kept me going these past few months. It turned out to be a waste of time, because they were all complete dumps. Yesterday was freshman orientation on campus, and then I went to check out some apartments I’d found online. Of course I’d had a glimpse of my new home from a distance it was like I already knew the mountains of Oregon, the endless forests, and even the university campus, thanks to the Internet. But now things were clear.Īctually, things hadn’t exactly started out as expected.

For the first few hours I’d fought the urge to turn back.

I’d arrived in Woodshill two nights ago, crashing in a run-down hostel. The drama of the last few days rushed through my head all over again. Tilting my head, I lifted my finger, then hesitated. I stared at the nameplate by the doorbell.

Feel again mona kasten english