MEG SAYS

THE FLIGHT

This was it. Margaret (better, call me 'Meg') has decided that she was going to California. ON HER OWN. FAR AWAY FROM CHICAGO. I mean, I am eighteen now and I am not going to stick around my parents, every time asking for money and explaining to them where I spend every dollar. I am independent and most importantly an adult.

Laura, her mom says, "You are going nowhere. This is your home, and you are staying here."

"No way, mom. I am all out."

"So, you what to run away from here, right? We are a burden for you."

"No, it's not like that. I just—want some freedom, you know"

"Jesus. What about your sister? She needs you here."

"Mom, she doesn't even know my name, I believe. And she is only three. Besides, it is you who she needs, not me" (Her little sister, Betty was born when she was 15. At first, she believed it to be a big joke or something, but they were serious. You know, it is what it is.)

"No! (Said her mother with a sigh) She loves you deep down. She even calls you 'COW' because she loves you."

"I don't like that name. Besides......."

All along from March, there has been a fight going in the 'NICOLE' house. Her parents are totally against her decision to go so far away from home and that too, to California. In their aspect, she was young and naïve. Most importantly, she didn't know how to take care of herself. But Meg was a bit stubborn and didn't want to look back. She was thinking of it as her 'time-to-see-and-enjoy-the-world-now' TICKET. 18, that's a big number, isn't it?

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But Meg was all set. It has been really difficult for her to get a seat in a college in California. She has been packing and unpacking twice a day, to her excitement. She even wrote a song 'Southern Breeze." And her father was going to book her tickets tonight (he was the easiest to convince). It was not like she hated her parents. She loved them more than anything in this world (apart from her guitar). But she was rather excited to experience 'THINGS', you know.

Today was a fine morning. In Meg's opinion, it was the best morning ever. She had never been so much excitement in her life apart from the day she brought her guitar. But there was something missing. Brad. She was missing him desperately, but she was also trying her best not to show it. Maybe what he said was right. They should move on. But how can he say that? She has spent half her high school loving him!  And one day, it was all.... 

It was Mid-February, a week after her birthday. Oh, thinking about it even gave her chills. For a week, Meg thought something was wrong with her only. How can Brad be wrong when he is such an angel? She used to stare in the mirror looking at herself. Well, she didn't have anything special. But there was also nothing unusual. She was fair (but that much white) and had shoulder-length wavy, black hair. NOT BLONDE, OR RED. She had jet black eyes. NOT GREEN, NOT BLUE, OR BROWN. But they were big. Not much big, but big. Her nose which she believed to be crafted most carefully as it suited her overall face. And the thing she loved the most about her was her height. She was 5-feet-8-inches-tall, and she loved it. She was outgoing but she can be introverted too at times. She was pretty, really pretty, and cute. She loved herself no matter what. And the source of this inspiration was her cousin brother.

"You are not that much pretty, as everyone seems you to be," said Meg to her brother, three years back. He was older than her and was tall, too.

"Do you want to know my inner-top-high-class-secret," he said with a Sherlock Holmes vibe.

"Yeah!" she said with excitement.

"Just believe yourself to be the most beautiful person alive and eventually everyone would do the same."

"You serious! Like for real," she said laughing.

"The best example of that is me", he said. He looked to her like Andrew Garfield from spider-man.

Anyway, it was a perfect morning, and she was not going to ruin it by reminiscing about a douchebag who doesn't even care for her. She was perfectly fine on her own, oh yes!

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Meg started feeling hungry and it was almost time for breakfast. She had taken bath and was wearing a plain lavender sweater with black skinny jeans. Her aunt always made fun of her legs. "Jeans suit people having full, nourished legs and thighs. Not someone like you," but she didn't care at all. She was descending the stairs when she heard her parent talking.

"She is grown up now. She is not our little cute daughter anymore," said her dad looking a bit crestfallen.

"But I mean why she has to go so far. I can't live without her. She is my life"

"But you can't keep your kids in a cage anymore. They are free birds now. They must explore things on their own. There is nothing stopping them."

"Yeah, but she has grown so fast. I can't seem to accept that fact."

"Yep, but it is what it is. She should go, I believe."

"Yeah," said her mom. She had tears in her eyes.

BOOM. Meg has jumped from the last three stairs.

"Good morning!" says Meg with a big smile on her face.

"Good morning, honey"

"So, dad you ready?"

"Totally."

Her dad booked her tickets while she ate breakfast.

"All set. Done" said her dad.

"Wow, let me see, let me see."

"Here you go, young lady. Bon, voyage!"

It said- 'Chicago to Los Angeles. 10.00-13.25'

This was it. She was on the full moon, right now.