AN: This is the paper that Sarah wrote for her high school English class.
'The Life I Behold' by Sarah Williams
I may not have had the hardest life, but it certainly has been rough. Unfortunately, to understand my aspirations and dreams you will have to know the back-story of my life. My father and mother divorced when I was a child. I have not really heard from my mother since. I often wonder if the person that I am today would make her proud.
My father remarried about five years ago. I hardly knew her and I have never really gotten along with her either. A couple years after they married, they had a child named Toby. My father and my step-mother have not really been around these last few years. Always out and never home. I gave up looking for their acceptance. Toby still seeks it from them, though.
What can I say about Toby? He is just this extremely pleasing child. He loves to cook with me and he loves to play pretend. He is always looking for attention fom me. Unfortunately, I did not always feel that way about him.
My father and step-mother went out constantly when he was born. I was to stay home and watch him every time. I honestly hated Toby for being born because I was not able to do the things that I wanted anymore. All I wanted to do then was re-enact plays in costume. I wanted to be an actress like my mother. One night while watching him, I had a dream that he was kidnapped. In order to get him back I had to give in to his kidnapper's demands and tasks. I barely made it through their tasks within their given time. When I woke up I realized that I was placing blame on someone who couldn't even make his own dicisions, let alone influence anyone else's. I gladly took care of him for the last two years.
My ambitions now are just to complete school, advance my career, and see Toby as much as I can. I have finished my college credits and I am under the impression that I have passed all my high school courses as well. I have a job at a local paper and I could very well see myself working there in years to come. I do still see Toby. My father and step-mother are hardly ever home. Toby and I rarely see them and when we do, they are frustrated about something that was not accomplished when they were out on one of their many escapades.
I think my future ambitions will remain the same. Though, I do want to move out of my parents' house. We will see when the time comes. I hope that Toby can be as happy as I currently am. I love my brother dearly. I just wish he was shown the love that he deserves from the people who should show it them most.
At this point and in the future, my life will revolve around Toby and I's well-being and happiness.