My Mother's Masterpiece

suffocating silence, broken only by Brenda' s s

en mess of her hair hidden beneath the severe

small act of defiance, la

pack, ensuring every it

ecked blouses, stur

m of opp

o the bustling freshman dorm,

ew faces, she could finally fade in

hope before Sarah even

said, her voice dripping with false sweetn

h saw her assigned roommate, Emily, already

bright, exci

, immediately launche

, her voice loud enough to turn heads. "I' m Brenda Mi

fered polite, slight

n a proprietary way. "She' s been raised in a very sheltered environment, yo

e ground to swa

shapeless dress, her severe hair, the way her mother

ul sophomore named Chloe, appr

iately zeroe

ere' s responsible oversight. Sarah needs a firm ha

aintained her professionalism. "We' re here

ying. "Now, let' s get your things upstairs. And Sarah, dear, remember what we discussed

n the air, heavy

tying, and slightly wary stares

ace b

exchanged a quick,

d-fashioned suitcases up to the dorm ro

e you sure it' s safe? And the communal b

s standard dorm size, Bren

enda-approved decorations Sar

eir family – Brenda beaming, David looking v

to make small talk, aski

tely aware of Brenda monitor

hip," Brenda interjected. "She needs to focus

limits, a strange, cloistered creatur

ymity, for a fres

lly branded her with

rent. A project

o tell everyone this wasn't her,

had made the night bef

ship. Her o

as tr

t had merely extended its reach, poisoning her new

her spirit

ad stayed in the car

to avoid Brenda' s scene

silent endorsement

r mother' s expectations and the pitying s

tarted, and it alread