8/31 story i

8/31:
topic given- 'start your short story'

I was twelve years old. It wasn't my choice. She yelled at me, why, why? But it wasn't my choice, I swear.
They told me on the day before Christmas. We were in St. Croix of the US Virgin Islands- paradise turned hell. They pulled me into their master suite with deceiving smiles on their faces. Just mom, dad, and me- their youngest daughter, their pride and joy.
"Jackie, we have some exciting news!" they said, and with that statement, my life changed.
"Dad got a call, and we don't know for sure, but, well-" "We're moving to California!" Dad broke in.
The smile on my face could not have faded faster. My jaw dropped and then, almost immediately, came the tears. The shock on both their faces told me they weren't expecting this reaction. They thought I'd want this? It wasn't a question, it was a statement. We're moving across the country. Merry Christmas.
California- the land of movie stars, beaches, and palm trees. Home of the greatest university system in the country, no winters, and the Golden Gate Bridge. The place where everyone is a tan, rich, beautiful surfer. The state that others envy. The state that has everything. Everything except Mentor, Ohio. Everything but home.
It's not like I had lived there nine of my twelve years of existence. It's not like all my friends, my wonderful school, my neighborhood and my first boyfriend all resided in this one little town. That must have been what they were thinking, right? Why the hell else would they think of uprooting me from this life I had created for myself?- This perfection they had let me believe?
It wasn't easy, no doubt. I had to tell friend after friend that I was leaving. Had to be the one to put the tears in their eyes, the sadness in their hearts.



to be continued. just the start of a short story. let me know what you think, all 3 of you who read this.