Trish curled up on her sofa, her hands wrapped around a cup of tea. It was late, but she needed to work on her homework. It wasn’t done, and she was beginning to wonder just how much she cared about passing the class. With a sigh, she took a sip of the hot liquid before setting it down, huddling in on herself, as she stared at the rather intimidating textbook on her coffee table, wondering if she was really cut out to attend university. I should’ve just stayed home and learned how to manage the ranch she thought.
Was living in the city really worth all the hassle of school? She wasn’t so sure anymore. It had been an argument royal at the time. Despite her being an adult now, her father still didn’t want to let her be on her own – calling her irresponsible, and incapable. He’d only relented and allowed it if he got to choose her course of study. Why had she ever thought it was a good idea to let him do that?
She picked the tea back up and took several gulps, not caring how hot it was. If it hurt, she had an excuse to cry. Once she’d set the mug down, she looked over at the textbook again, then over to her backpack, dumped unceremoniously on the floor after she’d come home from dropping John off. Apart from the general classes that needed to be taken for almost anything, any other textbook she had was for studies in criminal justice. Of course her father would have chosen that.
Fighting the tears of frustration, she pulled the blanket off the back of her sofa and pulled it over her, laying down as she did so. It was something her grandmother had made for her when she was little, and generally, it comforted her. She wanted to quit. If she did though, her father would be angry. Her grandfather would be supportive, but he might also be disappointed as well, and she didn’t know what was worse – her father’s anger, or her grandfather’s disappointment.
She laid there for several long moments, before pushing the blanket aside. She walked around her place. It was a small apartment, only one bedroom, and only 600 square feet, but it was hers. It was a haven. Here there were no bad memories. After a steadying breath, she sat down to scroll through her phone, and look up the school calendar. She would need to sign up for next semester’s classes soon. Tomorrow she would talk to her grandfather. Since he was paying for her schooling and other expenses, she felt it was only right to talk to him about his thoughts on her quitting, or trying to switch her major – or just come home.
She didn’t want to go back though. Going back might mean not seeing John again and… well… she felt invested. She wanted to make sure he’d be alright first, before she headed back to the ranch, if that was what was decided upon. Walking back over to the coffee table, she picked up her tea and finished the cup, a little more at ease with her thoughts. The cup was taken to the kitchen, rinsed, and set in the sink to be washed later. From there she went through the house and made sure the door and windows were secure before picking up her phone and heading to bed, her mind now largely preoccupied on John.
What was he up to, she wondered. Was he doing alright? With a little sigh, she set the phone down on the bedside table and prepared to bed, with the full intent of skipping class and sleeping in the following day.