Seclusion - Elvis Presley Fanfiction

Tough Love

July 8, 1979

It was a quiet evening at the Presley residence in Memphis Tennessee, sunlight pouring in through the windows and birds to be heard chirping outside. Olivia was sitting on her bed upstairs in her room, taking a nervous shaky breath as she opened an envelope addressed to her, those blue orbs skimming over the contents of the letter that was inside. She practically jumped up and squealed, so much so that it alarmed her parents who came rushing into the room just a minute later

"What's wrong, honey?" Elvis approached the eighteen year old, Julia following her husband

"I got accepted into college!" She flashed the letter that she was holding

Of course they were proud of their daughter for she'd be the first person in their family to attend college but it would feel weird at the house to not have her around anymore though she was building her own life and that meant letting her parents go

"When do you start?" Julia grinned at hearing the wonderful news

"September!"

"That's two months away." Elvis said

"I know, I'm so excited!" Olivia beamed

It hurt that old southern man to know that she was more than happy to be leaving her family, a family that were always there for one another

"I'll make biscuits and gravy for dinner to celebrate your acceptance. I'm so proud of you, sweetie." Julia hugged Olivia for a moment before heading downstairs to the kitchen, leaving father and daughter to themselves

Elvis wasn't quite sure what to say. He didn't want Olivia to leave but she was a young adult now and he had no control over her life. Just as he turned to leave, Olivia stopped him

"You don't like the idea of me going to college, don't you?" She got straight to the point

How could he lie to get out of this one? He couldn't. "No, I'm excited for you it's just....I don't understand it. I've been around my parents and family my whole life, it wouldn't sit right with me to leave them after being accustomed to something like that. Even when I got famous I couldn't imagine leaving my parents to live on my own."

"Dad, you've got nothing to worry about. I'll visit when I'm on spring break or for the holidays. I'll also call and write to you."

"What college accepted you?"

"University of Tennessee, it's in Knoxville."

"That's so far."

"I know but it's a great college and it would be stupid of me to turn it down."

Without another word, Elvis left the room and went downstairs to go outside and clear his mind. He had been acting off for the rest of the night, not even joining his family for dinner. When it was time for bed, Julia climbed underneath the covers on her side of the bed and scooted closer to her husband who was staring absentmindedly at the ceiling from where he was laying on his back

"Sweetie, what's going on with you?" She kissed him lightly on the cheek and rubbed at his chest

"Our baby's leaving us, we're not important to her anymore." He said without looking at her

"Yes we are. She wants to expand her knowledge and get out into the real world. She wants to make a name for herself, not just by being your daughter." She left a soft kiss on his cheek and rolled over to turn off the light at her bedside

"Jules-"

"She's eighteen, Elvis. You knew the day would come where she'd let us go and there's nothing we can do." Julia raised her voice ever so slightly