be fine. I won’t have fun and I’ll hate every second of it.”
“Sophia Margaret, that’s enough!” Dad snapped. “You are stubborn like your mother! It was her very stubbornness that got her killed and I’ll be damned if I loose you too. I’m doing what’s best for you. You’re going to Brightman and that’s final.”
A dull, tingly pain stabbed at my chest at the mention of Mom. Dad had crossed an invisible line. Unwritten rule number one was to never speak of Mom’s death — ever. No matter what.
Thoughts raced through my head a mile a minute — too fast to linger on or comprehend. Mom’s stubbornness got her killed? What did her stubbornness have to do with cancer? And how did sending me away prevent him from losing me? Didn’t the two contradict each other? He was obviously delusional.
I opened my mouth to shout back — something nasty and horrible that would hurt him — but nothing came to me. I could feel my face going red as hot tears streamed down my cheeks. I bolted from the room, accidentally knocking Dad into his chair in my haste.
Once in the safety of my room, I sobbed confused, frustrated tears into my pillow for what seemed like hours, trying to mastermind a way out. But now as I wept in my bathtub, I slowly accepted the truth: I was a good girl and an obedient daughter. I would follow through with whatever my father thought best, because I loved him and trusted his judgment.
I resigned myself to fact. I was going to Brightman Academy.
Chapter 2
First Day Dawning
“Well, I guess it’s time to say goodbye,” Dad said, fidgeting with his car keys.
I’d spent the day dreading this inevitably awkward moment while packing my things for my stay at Brightman Academy, but it could no longer be avoided as my flight departed in an hour. I stared at the worn airport carpet, finding it hard to look Dad in the face. I consented to his plan, but was still upset he was sending me away.
“Please don’t be mad, Sophie,” he pleaded, his voice breaking. “Trust that I’m doing this for your own good.”
“I know,” I said, putting on a brave face. After crying all night, I’d passed the day in a numb state of shock, but now that it was time to part, fresh emotion rose to the surface. I forced a smile. There was plenty of time to be mad at Dad later. “I’ll miss you,” I muttered, knowing I’d regret not telling him.
“Oh, Soph!” He stifled a sob. Startled, I met his gaze for the first time all day to find him worse off than I’d imagined. His crooked grimace and pooling, red eyes were blatant evidence that I wasn’t the only one suffering. He hugged me. “I’m so sorry things have to be this way. This isn’t easy for me either. But one day soon, you’ll understand. I love you, Sophie. I’ll always love you, okay?”
“I know,” I mumbled into his shoulder, willing myself not to cry.
He stepped back, searching through his jacket. “Take advantage of this opportunity. Study hard, but don’t forget to play hard too, okay?” He handed me an envelope and a credit card. “The credit card is for living and school expenses. Use it wisely. There’s enough cash in the envelope to get you to Annandale.”
Opening the envelope, I thumbed through a thick stack of twenties. Guilt money, no doubt. “It’s not going to cost five hundred dollars to get to Brightman from the airport.”
“No matter. Take a cab to Brightman. Once you get there, ask for Dr. Smitherson. He’ll be expecting you,” Dad nervously rambled.
“You already told me all this.”
“I know,” Dad sighed, hugging me again. “I’m proud of you, Sophie. I know this isn’t easy for you.” He stroked my cheek. “My poppet. You be good, okay?”
The grief apparent behind his fake smile was enough to break me right then and there. By now the lump in my throat was burning like I’d swallowed a hot coal. “You too, Daddy. I love you.”
He kissed my cheek and I turned, quickly heading for the
“Sophia Margaret, that’s enough!” Dad snapped. “You are stubborn like your mother! It was her very stubbornness that got her killed and I’ll be damned if I loose you too. I’m doing what’s best for you. You’re going to Brightman and that’s final.”
A dull, tingly pain stabbed at my chest at the mention of Mom. Dad had crossed an invisible line. Unwritten rule number one was to never speak of Mom’s death — ever. No matter what.
Thoughts raced through my head a mile a minute — too fast to linger on or comprehend. Mom’s stubbornness got her killed? What did her stubbornness have to do with cancer? And how did sending me away prevent him from losing me? Didn’t the two contradict each other? He was obviously delusional.
I opened my mouth to shout back — something nasty and horrible that would hurt him — but nothing came to me. I could feel my face going red as hot tears streamed down my cheeks. I bolted from the room, accidentally knocking Dad into his chair in my haste.
Once in the safety of my room, I sobbed confused, frustrated tears into my pillow for what seemed like hours, trying to mastermind a way out. But now as I wept in my bathtub, I slowly accepted the truth: I was a good girl and an obedient daughter. I would follow through with whatever my father thought best, because I loved him and trusted his judgment.
I resigned myself to fact. I was going to Brightman Academy.
Chapter 2
First Day Dawning
“Well, I guess it’s time to say goodbye,” Dad said, fidgeting with his car keys.
I’d spent the day dreading this inevitably awkward moment while packing my things for my stay at Brightman Academy, but it could no longer be avoided as my flight departed in an hour. I stared at the worn airport carpet, finding it hard to look Dad in the face. I consented to his plan, but was still upset he was sending me away.
“Please don’t be mad, Sophie,” he pleaded, his voice breaking. “Trust that I’m doing this for your own good.”
“I know,” I said, putting on a brave face. After crying all night, I’d passed the day in a numb state of shock, but now that it was time to part, fresh emotion rose to the surface. I forced a smile. There was plenty of time to be mad at Dad later. “I’ll miss you,” I muttered, knowing I’d regret not telling him.
“Oh, Soph!” He stifled a sob. Startled, I met his gaze for the first time all day to find him worse off than I’d imagined. His crooked grimace and pooling, red eyes were blatant evidence that I wasn’t the only one suffering. He hugged me. “I’m so sorry things have to be this way. This isn’t easy for me either. But one day soon, you’ll understand. I love you, Sophie. I’ll always love you, okay?”
“I know,” I mumbled into his shoulder, willing myself not to cry.
He stepped back, searching through his jacket. “Take advantage of this opportunity. Study hard, but don’t forget to play hard too, okay?” He handed me an envelope and a credit card. “The credit card is for living and school expenses. Use it wisely. There’s enough cash in the envelope to get you to Annandale.”
Opening the envelope, I thumbed through a thick stack of twenties. Guilt money, no doubt. “It’s not going to cost five hundred dollars to get to Brightman from the airport.”
“No matter. Take a cab to Brightman. Once you get there, ask for Dr. Smitherson. He’ll be expecting you,” Dad nervously rambled.
“You already told me all this.”
“I know,” Dad sighed, hugging me again. “I’m proud of you, Sophie. I know this isn’t easy for you.” He stroked my cheek. “My poppet. You be good, okay?”
The grief apparent behind his fake smile was enough to break me right then and there. By now the lump in my throat was burning like I’d swallowed a hot coal. “You too, Daddy. I love you.”
He kissed my cheek and I turned, quickly heading for the
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