Finals came and went. Sarah qualified for the scholarship that she was aiming for. All that was left was Graduation, and that was just a week away. Although the weight of the finals lifted from her shoulders, she was still burdened within her heart. She didn't know what to do about Jareth. Her heart yearned for him, but her mind wouldn't allow her to give in to the fairy tale that he represented. Sarah worked so hard to get to graduation and to set herself up for college. She didn't want to throw that away. Knowing that if she were to choose to be with Jareth, she would choose to walk away from her life here. In her heart she could not lose Toby forever. It would wreck her!

Karen's ever watchful eye didn't help matters as well. The tension between the two was so thick that it could be cut with a knife. Sarah only joined family meals out of obligation. The awkward silence between the adults at the table added to the strain of the household. Robert had checked out of the situation. He didn't want to be caught in the middle between the two. Only the clanking of silverware on plates filled the air. Little Toby didn't know what was going on, but he tried to make his mommy and sister happy. "Hey Sarah," the child then made a funny face to make his sister smile. Sarah gave a little smile back at him. Toby then giggled. Karen immediately corrected her son and told him to keep eating his dinner. His little crest fallen face tore at Sarah's heart. She didn't want to leave Toby to go to college, but Karen's controlling nature made it all so easy to just go. The concept of just walking away from it all was a welcoming thought.

Sarah then thought of her mother. Would that make her the same as Linda Williams? Just to walk away from what was difficult. To leave her family? Sarah didn't want to do that. She couldn't leave Toby like that. Who would protect him? She could imagine Karen being upset at Toby for interrupting her social life. Karen loved being the center of attention and being in the thick of society. Toby would be miserable if he were dragged to social events and told not to be loud or make a ruckus. Or to be stuck with disinterested random babysitters. Whose goal was just to get him to go to bed, so they could do whatever they wanted.

After dinner Sarah did the dishes as Karen gave Toby a bath and put him to bed. Sarah was quietly contemplating things as she dried a plate in her hands. She looked out of the kitchen window and saw a barn owl staring at her from a branch of a nearby tree. The plate slipped from her hands and crashed to the floor.

"What the hell?", Karen marched into the kitchen as Sarah had begun to clean the mess.

"You're breaking things now?", she placed her hands on her hips.

Sarah balked at the accusation. "It was an accident!"

"Yeah, right." Karen muttered.

"You know what, you can do the dishes!" Sarah started to leave. Karen then halted the young woman's retreat.

"Oh no you don't, you finish what you started and clean up this mess!"

"Make me!", Sarah locked eyes and challenged the woman.

Karen's eyes flashed anger. Not taking her eyes off the young women, "Robert!", she yelled.

Sarah's father begrudgingly came into the kitchen. He didn't want to deal with either one of them.

"I have had enough of this brat's disrespect!"

Robert tried to soothe his wife and tell her to calm down.

"She's gotta go! As soon as graduation is here, she's gotta be out of this house. I don't care how it's done or how much it cost, but she has got to be out! Or I will!"

"Now Dear, let's discuss this in the bedroom." Robert then ushered his wife away from the kitchen.

Sarah couldn't freaking believe what she was hearing. Her Dad didn't even stand up for her or at least hear her side of the story.

She bound up to her room and screamed her frustration into her bed pillows.

Anger and spite filled the pit of her stomach. If they want me gone, then fine!

"I wish the goblins would take me away right now!" she yelled into her room.