Chapter 16
The new school year approached incredibly fast,
bringing a flurry of exciting,
and slightly chaotic back-to-school shopping trips.
Emma was entering the third grade,
and she was completely determined to pick out the perfect,
and most brightly colored backpack in the entire store.
They spent hours wandering the crowded aisles,
comparing glittery notebooks,
and testing out completely different colored pens,
laughing at the silly designs on the folders.
Jessica bought everything on the long supply list,
not worrying about the rising cost,
because she had recently received a massive promotion at work,
a direct result of her completely renewed focus,
and her entirely stress-free mind.
She was finally thriving in her professional career,
no longer entirely weighed down by the heavy exhaustion,
of constant emotional manipulation at home.
On the night before the first day of school,
they laid out Emma's carefully chosen new outfit,
a bright yellow dress,
with absolutely perfect matching white sneakers.
Jessica packed a healthy,
and entirely delicious lunch in the new lunchbox,
cutting the ham sandwiches into fun little star shapes,
and writing a sweet,
and very encouraging note on a yellow napkin.
She tucked the folded napkin inside,
feeling a completely overwhelming wave of pure love,
for the smart,
and incredibly brave little girl sleeping upstairs.
The next morning was entirely a blur of excited energy,
with Emma rushing through her breakfast cereal,
and double-checking her packed backpack frantically.
Jessica drove her to the large brick school building,
walking her directly to the door of her new classroom,
and giving her one final,
and incredibly tight hug.
Have a beautiful day, sweetie,
Jessica whispered softly,
smoothing her daughter's perfectly brushed hair.
I will, Mommy,
Emma replied brightly,
turning around and running confidently into the noisy room,
without a single backward glance,
or any sign of nervous hesitation.
Jessica walked slowly back to her empty car,
feeling a tiny,
and completely normal pang of parental sadness,
that her baby was growing up so incredibly fast.
But the sadness was instantly replaced by massive pride,
because Emma was growing up completely strong,
and entirely independent,
secure in the absolute knowledge that she was loved.
Jessica drove to her busy office,
ready to tackle the complex challenges of the day,
feeling entirely invincible in her beautiful new life.
She had fought a long,
and incredibly dark war for her personal freedom,
and looking at the bright,
and completely open road entirely ahead of her,
May you like
she knew she had completely,
and absolutely won.
