Prologue II
Cassie
“I ain’t paying for shit,” my dad grumbled.
I shook my head and said, “You don’t have to pay for anything.”
He laughed sardonically, “Yeah, there you go. Thinking this world is going to give you something for nothing. It doesn’t work like that. Been trying to tell you that for years. But just like your momma. Fucking stupid.”
It was my turn to laugh sardonically at the man, “Well, this fucking stupid woman has the third highest GPA in our graduating class. This fucking stupid woman got college offers. Full rides.”
And with that, I shook my head, headed to my room, and got my things.
All the while, I could feel his eyes on me.
And for the first time in eighteen years, he had stopped himself before taking another drink.
I had everything loaded down in my old Ford Taurus as I looked up at the sun that was cresting behind the trees.
Then I heard the old creak of the screen porch door and sighed.
Then I turned my head to look at my father.
He was coming down the steps, and the moment he made it to me, I held up a hand, “I’m not in the mood for another one of your lectures.”
He nodded, then he pushed his hair back, and I watched.
Watched as he winced when his fingers came back greasy.
Then he looked at me.
And there... For the first time in as long as I could remember, I saw it. Shame.
Oh.
He put his hands in his old jeans’ pockets, then he looked down at himself and sighed, “Thought about driving you. Helping you get set up. But didn’t realize how bad off I was.”
I nodded.
What could I say to that?
You hadn’t realized how bad off you are?
You didn’t know that I knew you had gone to wearing your underwear inside out because you were too drunk off your ass to realize you had crapped on yourself?
You didn’t realize that you were so bad off that you thought the bottle of cleaner I was using was perfume?
I didn’t say any of that, though.
“What time do you need to be there?”
“In two days. It’s thirteen hours away.”
He winced, “Wanted to get far away, didn’t you?”
I bit my bottom lip and nodded.
The truth hurt.
But a lie... it hurt so much more.
He nodded.
“Okay, well, I’ll uhh... I’ll work on things. Okay. Can you... if...” he sighed, then shook his head and turned on his heel and started to walk away.
I closed my eyes, then inhaled a long breath, and called out, “Dad? What?”
He stopped, then turned his head and looked at me. I watched as he took in a breath and said, “If you would let me know when you graduate, I’d like to be there.”
I nodded, “Get the help you need. Then we will see.”
He nodded.
Then I watched as he walked back into the trailer.
I looked up one last time at the sun and smiled.
This was my new start. My new outlook on life.
And I was going to make the most of it.
***
Sure, what I had set out to do had been daunting on my first day of classes.
But I was stubborn.
Therefore, I stuck it out.
I hadn’t known what I wanted to do years ago. But when I watched a movie, something in it had resonated inside of me.
And that something had made me smile.
And I knew, I knew that if I could help others who had sacrificed for their country... it would make the years I had to study worth it.
***
And that was why, as I sat in my chair at our graduating ceremony six years later, with a dual degree for not only a Physical Therapist but also an Occupational Therapist with a minor in Massage Therapy, I had a smile on my face.
I had done it.
And yes, other than my friends, I had two people here.
One of them had changed his life that day.
He had gotten the help he needed, and then... he had stopped drinking.
Cold turkey.
And I couldn’t be prouder of him.
Then, as our row was ready to start, I stood up and scanned the crowd.
The moment my eyes landed on my dad, I saw him wink, and then he pointed at me.
His wife, an amazing woman named Paula, waved at me.
I waved back.
The other students’ names were called, and then my name was called.
“Cassandra Rae Skye.”
I smiled as I walked up the steps, and the moment I had my degrees in my hand, I heard my dad shout, “That’s my girl.”
I was giggling as I walked across the stage.
I was still giggling as my dad wrapped me in a hug and whispered, “I’m so proud of you, darlin’.”
I smiled into his big, burly chest and said, “I’m so proud of you, too, dad.”
We pulled apart, and then Paula wrapped me in a hug, “Congratulations, sweetie.”
I smiled, “Thank you.”
Then my best friend in the whole wide world, Sara, ran over to my side, kissed my dad’s cheek, and Paula’s, and then she said, “Dinner?”
After we all ate, I dropped my dad and Paula off at the airport and then headed to our apartment to get ready for our very last college party.
I was meeting up with my boyfriend, Kyle.
Things had been strained lately, but I was hoping that now that classes were over, things would smooth out.
That had been my thought at least, until I saw something that stayed in the back of my mind.
Why had Sara looked at him with longing in her eyes?
And why had Kyle widened his eyes at her and shaken his head?