“Oh good you’re finally home”

“Mother” replied the brunette through a clenched jaw

“I’m leaving, I left you money on the counter” replied the older woman

“I didn’t even realize you were back” Ashley replied opening the refrigerator to keep her hands busy

“Flew in this morning” she answered in a just as sarcastic tone as her daughter

“Where are you going now?” she asked purely out of routine

“Something tells me you don’t care either way”

Ashley slammed the door to the fridge and turned to look at her mother who she hadn’t seen in 2 weeks.

“You’re right, I don’t”

“Most children would just take the money and keep their mouths shut” Christine replied adjusting the strap to her purse

“Because I’m not a child” the younger brunette replied with narrowed eyes

In response her mother just rolled hers, “Well you sure are acting like one, now if you’re done, I have a plane I have to catch”

“Have a nice time” her daughter replied with words dripping in hatred

“I will” the mother replied putting on her sun glasses and making her way out of the kitchen

Ashley heard the front door slam shut before she swiped her hands across the counter, knocking over a pile of mail in a moment of rage.

“Fuck” she cursed as she knelt down next to the scattered envelopes and magazines

She began to slide the items closer to her so she could file them in the neat pile they were in moments before she let her anger get the best of her.

She looked down at some of the things she was gathering, noticing the college spam mail, noticing the schools that thought she’d be a fit there, realizing she was just a number, a quota to fill. Soon realizing the droplets of water landing on the oversized postcards, and finally realizing that it wasn’t water at all, but tears. Tears that were coming from her own eyes, she felt betrayed. Betrayed that her body and mind never allowed her to feel such a sweet release of emotion, and betrayed that she couldn’t stop. It felt good to her, to let out all the pain and confusion.