Chapter 1
It felt weird being out of college and onto the real world, of adulthood, careers and a heap of independence.
What is a young woman, who has lived in the wonderful bonds of family, deal with future art critics and other challenges that the real world has in store.
Rosa stared at the university she just graduated from, and silently said, “Farewell!”
Farewell student life, farewell to six years of knowing what to do and where to go.
Hello to the vast sea of career options in the art world.
Rosa was in a thought so deep, she jumped when she heard her family burst through the front door, copious congratulations reverberated through Rosa’s ears.
Though Rosa enjoyed her gifts, she had to try super hard to not let post-graduate depression show.
But her mother sensed something was up.
“Are you okay sweetheart?” Julia asked her youngest daughter, “For someone who is about open a new chapter in her life you seem flat, or glum.”
“I am so sorry, guys...I am unable to stay happy, and feel as though I am wading through grayness and mud.”
Being a psychologist, Julia picks up on things like flat-affect and depression.
”Erin, what the hell do you want? I am kind of busy.” Gregory Bates coldly asks his daughter Erin, who just graduated from college.
“What did I ever do to you guys?!” Erin bellowed through clenched teeth.
“Can’t you see I am busy? I do not have time for this bullshit!”
Erin folded her arms and glared at her dad, “You and Mom were not at my college graduation today! Do you know how rejected I am feeling?”
Sheila, Erin’s mother, had to try to stifle her laughter.
She and Greg never really wanted kids, especially girls.
If Erin was a boy, they would have way more patience, be more involved with school or sporting events.
“Erin, stop..Please. Aunt Jacqui and Uncle Boris were there, and so were Malina and Tim.” Sheila scoffed.
Erin sensed there was no point in going further with this discussion, because her mom and dad already made their point.
Erin felt small and messed with, because Greg and Sheila would play the “warm, loving parents” whenever the three of them were out in public or entertaining guests.
Erin was always Miss Discontinued throughout her life. MISS DISCONTINUED, despite being well-behaved for most of her childhood.
Erin also had to make straight-A’s in school,
Sheila and Greg wanted Erin to be the “Trophy Kid” or else be treated like a disgusting street urchin.
Erin needed to find her own place, and stop trying so hard to please those mind-toyers named Greg and Sheila.
