I didn’t argue and was too numb to protest. Besides, I’d already lost the most precious thing—my family. I consoled myself that at least I had a mattress, a mini desk, and quiet hours between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. During the day, I threw myself into school and studied as if my life depended on it, because honestly, it did. I needed scholarships to get into college. I needed a plan to find work and build a life on my own. I needed to matter to someone, even if that someone was just my future self.
But at night, when everyone else in the dorm scrolled through TikTok, played music from their phones, or watched TV in the common room, I took over the kitchen. I baked blueberry, apple, cherry, peach, and strawberry rhubarb pies when I could afford it. I saved up my monthly aid and bought ingredients like flour, fruit, and butter.
Read more on the next page ⬇️⬇️⬇️
