You, Me & Everything in Between

Julie Hi, I am Julie Stacey. I originally lived here in Boston. Living with my not-so functional mother for almost 8 years now. It started when I was 10 years old. Same old shitty story. We were once a happy family. Mom was a typical sweet American housewife. Dad was a financial accountant. Everything was okay back then. We were happy. I guess we are. Now, here I am. I don’t know how in an instant everything changed. The once happy life I know,is now full of sadness and grief. I don't know how our lives changed so quickly. I don’t know how it started. I don't know why that happened to us. You see, my Dad was imprisoned because he allegedly stole their company's funds. At first I didn’t believe it. My Dad was the best and sweetest man everyone could wish for. But from that young age I knew that all the evidence pointed to my Dad. My Dad's opponent is a big company. So the verdict was life imprisonment. Yes. Life imprisonment. And all our assets are gone. Taken by the State. My Mom and I have almost nothing left. At first, Mom was fine. She kept saying that she was the only one I had. She even helped me to continue my studies and finish my junior high school studies. She tried to get me to continue my studies even though she was having a hard time and Dad was no longer there to help her. But it was the summer of my Senior High school. Mom gave up. I remember when I went home to school, I looked for her at home. But she does not answer. And I saw her in the bath tub. The wrist was full of blood. She looked at me crying, but smiling at the same time, she said to me "I love you, Juliebells. But I'm so tired." And the tears dripped away along with the dripping of her blood. But I managed to save her. I quickly called 911 before it was too late. I saved her. But I didn’t save her from herself. After the incident, I could no longer rely on Mom. She's always too drunk to take care of me. Fortunately, Grandma and Grandpa are there. Somehow, they help me with expenses and bills. But I don't want to rely on them just because they are old. So I learned to work at the age of 16 years old. I got used to it and somehow I can say that I graduated from school and, at the same time, I also helped Mom. But I can’t get rid of anger. Anger because why did she let me go? Why was she able to leave me? Yes, she is here. With me. But I can’t feel that she’s with me, That I still have one parent left. But that’s okay. One more week I will be out of Boston. I got a scholarship to my favorite university. Washington State University. I passed their scholarship program in BS Nursing. When I was young, I really wanted to be a nurse. And here it is. Gradually I will reach my dreams. No distraction, I should just focus on my goal. I will not allow that, for the rest of my life I am the daughter of a prisoner, and an alcoholic as a mother. Here I am today, cooking Mom’s breakfast. I’m used to it because this is what I do every day. Before I go to work, I cook her breakfast first. While does she? She was lying on the sofa and very drunk again. I only have 30 minutes left to get to work because I might be late again. So I left her a note saying that I was heading for work, then went to get my keys. I got out and opened the driver's side of my car when Eric called. Eric was my five-year boyfriend. We met during the debate when we were still in Junior High School. We used to argue in debates. And after that, he always teased me and we became friends. Finally, he popped the question about whether I could be his girlfriend. I fell inlove with Eric. At that time, I was very sad. He is the person who makes me happy. When I cry, he is always there for me. We are happy. But when the point came, we knew we were serious about each other. His parents instantly entered the scene. Eric comes from a wealthy family. His parents were both doctors, so Eric followed in their footsteps. But I know they are not happy that the girlfriend of their only child is the daughter of a drug addict and prisoner. But Eric never left me. He fought for me with his parents and because of that they learned to live with me. Maybe they just put up with me. So you see, Eric is the perfect man for me. He is the light in my dark world. Our goal is perfect. Perfect for the life I want to live. Eric being a doctor, Me as a Nurse. We’ll get married right away after finishing college. Find a Bungalow in Seattle. Have kids and grow old and grey together. It was perfect. “Hey babe. How are you?” He immediately asked me. “Fine. I’m actually on my way to work now.” I answered him while my cellphone was stuck to my ear and shoulder and at the same time, I entered the driver's side of the car. “Oh. Sorry to bother you.” “It’s OK.” I screamed as I started the car and left the lot. “I miss you.” “I miss you too. Next week I’m moving to Washington,” I said with a sigh. Eric didn’t want me to go to college in Washington. He wished I was at Harvard just like him. I did try, but the cost of living was too high when I went to Harvard and I might not be able to afford it. I heard him sigh on the other line. “Babe, you know you’re too far away from me when you study there.” Here we go. “I know babe. But if I want to finish school, I want to go to WSU. They were the only ones who offered me a full-ride scholarship.” I explained to him even though I had explained it to him already many times before. “Okay, babe. We’ll make this work. Promise me, we’ll make this work.” “We will, Eric. You know we will”, I assured him. After Eric and I talked on the phone, I hurried to go to work. Last week. This is my last week here at work after 3 years of service to the Grenes. “Grenes” is the Boston breakfast restaurant of the people here in our village in Boston. So I’m very busy because a lot of people eat at this time in the diner. And we only have three employees. When the time with many customers was over, I rested for a while and suddenly, no other than Joel, my best friend since we were still a fetus, entered the restaurant. “How is my best friend in the whole wide world?” He approached me while dancing as if he was very excited. “OMG Joel, Stop that. You look like an old man with a sore back”, I teased him. He sat in the first seat at the bar counter. “So WSU? Are you ready?” “You know I’ve been ready to leave here in Boston for 8 years.” I answered while cleaning the dishes used by customers. “Are you sure? Does your Mom already know?” I stopped what I was doing because of his sudden question and sighed “Yes. But I expect her to be happy for me and maybe we can celebrate or something, but instead she leaves and celebrates alone.” I laugh dryly. Joel has been my best friend since kindergarten and they were also our neighbors. So everything that happened in our family life they knew very well. Joel’s parents are kind. They treat me like their own child. His parents also helped me apply for a scholarship to WSU. They also took care of the dorm where I will stay for the next 4 years. I will stay in the dorm of Joel’s sister, Janine. Last year, she left here in Boston to attend school at WSU. Talk about luck, right? I am lucky. Lucky that I have these people around me. Luck because they are helping me. So I promised myself that I would be successful. That I will also recover all the goodness given by those who help me. Joel waited until after my shift ended in Grenes so that we could buy the things we needed. I was able to save money in the three years I worked. I prepared this for my departure here in Boston. I have nothing else I want now but to change my life far from here. Far from my past. Joel and I went to Wallmart and while we were shopping we met Eric’s parents and his Mom looked at me. She was smiling but I knew her smile was fake. While his father just passed me by like I was nothing but small dirt under his shoe. He smiled at his Mom and continued to walk. Joel laughed next to me because with him I was telling all my annoyance to Eric’s parents. I nudged him while he continued to walk onto the other isle. “Let’s bet, Eric will call me …” I challenged Joel and took out my cellphone. “What else?” And in less than five minutes my phone rang and the caller was none other than Eric. “Hey, babe. What’s up?” I feigned innocence. “Julie, Mom and Dad saw you at Walmart .. With Joel.” “Yeah, babe. We’re just shopping for the things we’re missing for WSU. You know Joel, don’t you? He’s my best friend. Nothing more ..” “…and nothing less.” He finishes for me with a long sigh. If I had only seen Eric now, I had known he was already shaking his head. “I love you, babe. Don’t worry about us.” “love you too.” Then he ended the call. We continued shopping. “You’re not married yet, but it seems like everyone in his family should be the one to decide for you.” Joel’s face suddenly became serious. I nudged him and smiled “Hey. I will be fine.” ********************************* After shopping, Joel and I went home. Joel got out of my car and said goodbye to go home while crossing to their house. I entered the house with a big shock when I saw that it was very chaotic and our belongings were completely broken. I saw Mom on the floor crying as her drug dealer boyfriend strangled her. I grabbed him and he immediately turned his attention to me as he pulled out my bag and forcefully took my wallet full of my savings. Mom hugs him. Mom tried to remove his hand that was wrapped around my neck, but I didn’t have the strength to stop him from taking all my money. When he got what he wanted, he immediately let me go and left the house. Mom even tried to chase him but he quickly left. One more week … It’s only a week and I’ll be able to leave. That’s all I was thinking while arranging the things scattered on the floor. I’m numb. I could no longer cry because I was so tired. Mom came back with nothing to gain. She immediately approached me to see if I was hurt. She burst into tears as she looked at my neck. I got angry and removed her hand that was holding me. She stopped while looking at me but I left to rest in my room. When I entered the room, I immediately packed the things I was going to take to WSU. When I opened my cabinet, I saw my old box on the side. When I opened, it was full of beautiful memories and photos. Time that we are Happy. I miss Dad. I miss him so much. I clutched the family photo we took in the sea around my chest and started to break down. God! It felt so good to cry your heart out. I heard Mom knocking on the door but I didn’t open it. She failed me. For the past 8 years, she failed me. So I will never come back here. There is no reason for me to come back here. I was so tired and my eyes were heavy that I didn’t realize I had fallen asleep. I am happy when I am enjoying old photos, at times. Times that I am still Me. ******************************** A week later, this is the day I’ve been waiting for. I was packing the last things I would take when Mom came into the room crying. But she did not cry because she was sad. She seemed to be crying because she was happy. Is she happy? Because there is no burden on her. There is no one to stop her from doing what she wants to do with her life. She helped me pack and when it was over she hugged me. Real tight. And I hugged her tight too. I want to say that I miss her so much that I love her with all my heart. But I can’t. I just can’t. "Get too far away here in Boston, my dear." I can't say anything but just hug her tightly because that's exactly what I'm going to do. “Don’t think about me. Don’t think about Dad. Don’t think about the past. Be happy and do everything you can to make yourself happy.” he said as he hugged me and stroked my hair like when I was a child. “Just know that I am so proud of you, Juliebells. Mom and Dad are so proud of you.” I would have said that I loved them so much when Joel suddenly blew his car horn. Signal that we are leaving. Mom left hugging me and I seemed to be looking for the warmth of her hug. I walked out with the box and got into the car. Joel’s parents smiled at me and waved goodbye. Joel said goodbye to Mom. “I promise Mrs. Stacey, I will take care of Julie,” Said Joel. Mom smiled and said “I know you will.” Joel had already operated the car. As the car drove away, I looked at Mom in the rearview mirror, who was moving farther and farther away from me. Thinking this time, I was the one who left. After the long journey from Boston to Pullman, Washington, we finally arrived. Finally! While I was in the car, I was immediately amazed at the place. It’s still summer here. Students also have a summer vacation. But you can see so many students arranging their dorms as well. When we got out of Joel’s car, Janine immediately shouted at us. Joel’s sister. While waving, standing at the entrance of the Girl’s Dormitory. Joel immediately ran to his sister and hugged her. I smiled, approaching the two of them. Joel and Janine are very close. So when Janine left last year to study here at WSU, Joel was really sad. I am also sad because Janine became my big sister as well. “Oh, you two grew up very well. I missed you both” She said as she hugged me. “Yes, Janine. Let us go, I can’t breathe.” Joel tried to break free from Janine’s tight hug, so Janine and I both laughed. Right now, I feel a warm welcome here at WSU, because of the two people close to me. “Come on, Julie. Let’s go into your dorm.” Janina invited me while holding my hand. We will stay at Chinook Village. It was a white furnished apartment complex inside the University Residence. Chinook village was perfect. Because it is only 20 minutes away from the university itself, 15 minutes to the recreation center and 9 minutes to the Stephenson Fitness Center. So perfect because of Joel and Janine's parents as well. I can stay here for 4 years for free. It was also not very quiet. Because the village itself has 122, three or two bedroom apartments. Each student can accommodate two to three students in each unit. Janine accompanied me to our unit. As soon as I entered, I felt at home immediately. Because it is complete. Everything you need for an entire house is here. It also has its own patio overlooking the outside of the Village and overlooking some parts of the university. The best part was that it has three bedrooms. Talk about privacy, huh? Janine told me that her bedroom was in the middle and I was on the right side opposite the door. “I leave you to it. I hope you liked your room. I hope you have fun here at WSU.” Janine said to me as she stood outside the door of my future room. “Janine, this is perfect. Thank you so much for the help. Thank you to Mr and Mrs Curtis for helping me out here.” I told her. I am so grateful to their family. “You deserve it, Hun.” And with that she left. After Janine left, I immediately arranged my belongings. After I finished what I was doing, I went out to the Living Room. And drinking the water, suddenly a dark-skinned beautiful woman entered. “Hi, I’m Jessica. I’ll be staying there.” She pointed to the left side of the room. Near the patio. “Oh, Hi. I’m Julie. “ I reached out to her and we shook our hands. Jessica and I quickly got to know each other and quickly became close. “You see, Someone invited me to the Freshman party tonight. You should come with me.” She invited me. Unlike me, Jessica seems to have a social life. But me? I don’t like to party. Because I was working then and still studying. “I don’t …” Before I could finish my answer, Joel. “Let’s go. Let’s Party.” I sighs. “Oh, Hello there. I’m Joel. You are?” Joel introduces himself to Jessica, who looks shocked at Joel’s sudden entry. I decided to break Jessica’s awkwardness in Joel’s presence. “He’s Joel. He’s the brother of the one who lives in the middle room. And he’s ….” Before I could finish, Joel stepped in between Jessica and me and he just stared at “Her best friend.” He finished what I was going to say. By that Jessica seems to be comfortable and introduces herself to Joel. “So? Party? Come on, Julie. One party won’t hurt you. Chill out!” Joel insisted on me. “Fine”. As soon as I answered, my phone rang. And it was Eric. We talked on the phone about how I loved WSU already and he seemed to be happy for me.