"Ok, I've got all my clothes packed except for the stuff I'm wearing today and tomorrow. I packed my stereo, my TV, my new fridge and microwave. My school books, my notebooks, pens, pencils, my calculator, my address book with all my friends' numbers, my calendar, my shoes, my hair brush, my new toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, makeup, body splash, my… my… what am I forgetting?"
"To breathe?" Karen laughed at her stepdaughter from the doorway to Sarah's bedroom.
Sarah grinned at her Karen as she surveyed her boxes thoughtfully. "I know, but I'm so excited!" she laughed at herself, 'I can't believe I made it into Harvard! I mean… wow… tomorrow I'm going to be a member of the top school in the entire United States…"
Karen smiled proudly, "I know," she paused and her expression grew serious, "Sarah? Seriously, you know how proud your father and I are of you, right? You've grown into an incredibly beautiful young woman, and we're all so proud of you."
Sarah blushed, and hugged her stepmother. "Thanks Karen," she whispered. "You don't know how much that means to me."
Karen squeezed her extra-tight for a moment, then released her. "Ok, enough of the mushy stuff, we can save that for tomorrow when you leave." She turned to leave and called over her shoulder "By the way, dinner should be ready within half an hour. You should try and relax before then. Tomorrow's the big day"
Sarah nodded, and sat down on her bed. As soon as Karen left the room she reached beneath her pillow and pulled out the one book she had failed to find a place for. The small red book had been her best friend for the past 5 years. Ever since Linda had left and Karen had moved in. Those first few years had been tough. Sarah had lashed out at the utter unfairness of everything that had happened to her. She hadn't asked for her mother to leave, or for her father to find some new woman to try and be her replacement. Then they'd had a child together, and she was stuck with having to baby sit every weekend.
Then, one night over three years ago, Sarah was forced to grow up. She learned to face the consequences of her actions, and also that life was not fair. She also learned what it was like to have to give up one's dreams in order to do the right thing. It had been one of the hardest moments ever for her. Sarah had truly been tempted to take the crystal, and leave behind her life. But she couldn't. She could never do that to her family. It was then that she realized that Karen and Toby were her family, and no matter what, they always would be. Sarah had returned home with two realizations. Nothing was as it seemed, and Life isn't fair, but that's the way it is. Those two morals had seen Sarah through the past three years. Now as she stared down at the book that chronicled the most amazing event of her life, Sarah found she could not keep it.
As absurd as it seemed, Sarah could not keep the best part of her childhood. I'm leaving for Harvard tomorrow… This is a part of my childhood. And I am no longer a child. I have grown, and I have to leave this part of me behind. I am going to be a great politician some day. Maybe even President. I can't keep these foolish fantasies.
Sighing, Sarah wiped a tear from her cheek and rising from her bed she dropped the book into the large black trash bag waiting to be taken to the Salvation Army. Some young girl would find the book, and hopefully they would learn as much from it as she had.
I have to do this. My life here is over. Tomorrow is the start of my new life. Nothing will ever be the same…
Sarah glanced once more around the room that had been her sanctuary for her entire life before closing the door on her past.