Camilla looked out the window as she sat at her desk in her room. Books were stacked in front of her, constantly reminding her of the school work that she needed to get done. Normally, Camilla had no problem getting things done in a flash, but today, her mind was just wandering in every direction. She felt like she was looking for something, but didn’t really know what. She sighed as she put her elbow on the table and her head on her hand. Camilla couldn’t help but just stare blankly outside.

She had worked so hard to be where she was. For the most part, her parents were pleased with what she was able to do in school and out of school, but something was definitely missing. Camilla leaned back in her chair and looked up at the ceiling, then the rest of her room. All the posters she had made of her graffiti art and the small models of her favorite cars decorated her room. She looked at each one and remembered the happiness that creating each one gave her. It was odd for her though. Despite being able things that she loved, something… Something outside of her room tugged at her more.

Despite the door of her room being shut, she could hear her parents talking in the room next to hers. She had told them that although she loved them very much, something was missing in her life. Camilla could remember the things she told her parents. “I’m sorry… I just want to have a life of my own. All the things that you have done for me, all the things that you have encouraged me to do… They’re not in vain, but… I want to move out of the house…”

Right after that, the arguing had started, but they knew that they couldn’t stop her. As long as Camilla stayed in school and moved onto college, they wouldn’t stop her. Her parents knew that they had taught Camilla well. She’d come back and visit of course. Camilla did feel bad though. She knew she wasn’t abandoning her parents; she knew that she needed to get out to find… something.

Camilla sat back properly on her chair and looked at her desk. Under some of her books, there was a corner of a pamphlet. Carefully, Camilla pulled it out and stared at it. “Crystal Academy…” She had already talked to her parents about it and that was going to be her school. She would either live in the dorms or find someone else to live with. Her parents had tried convincing her to live at home, but they also knew that she wanted to get out, which was why she was going to a different school in the first place. “Whatever I’m looking for… the search will start there…”

Instead of going back to her schoolwork, Camilla pulled out a blank piece of paper and started to draw. She wanted to make something that showed her family that even though she wanted to move out, she still loved them and would always be there for them when she was needed. Forgetful as she was, moving out was not going to cause her to forget at all. The love for her parents, however, couldn’t stop her from getting mad.

They had complained to each other. Her parents wanted to get to a specific point in life. Camilla knew that she wanted to succeed, but it didn’t mean that she wanted to the same thing that her parents wanted her to do. On her paper, she managed to artfully describe what she was feeling. Amongst the curves, random shapes, and other random drawings, she incorporated the sentence “I will succeed… In my own way.”