Samantha looked at her suitcase as a tear fell down her face. They’ll never forgive me for this, but it’s not like they’re giving me any other options. I mean, they’ve always supported everyone in this family but me, she thought to herself. She took a long sigh, but then smiled as she picked up her suitcase, and tucked it under her bed. This is what I want…and family or not, I am not letting them stop me from taking another opportunity. Just then Samantha is shocked back into reality by the screaming voice of her mother, “SAMANTHA COME DOWN STAIRS YOU’RE GOING TO BE LATE FOR SCHOOL!”
Samantha just rolled her eyes and looked at the time; it was 8:30 school doesn't start till 9. I’ll be fine!  “School doesn't even start until 9,” she murmured. “Leave without me. I’ll find a ride.”
“Ok. Fine. Just DON’T be late.”
“I WON’T!”
With at least a half an hour to spare, Samantha walked over to her mirror and began to stroke her long black hair as she put it into a pony tail. She looked at the map of Paris hanging by her mirror and a round-trip plane ticket, and stuck them both in her back pocket. Turning her attention back toward the mirror she took one good long look at herself, almost as if she was searching for something. With tears building up in her deep blue eyes, it almost looked like the ocean was crying. But she stopped immediately, grabbed her suitcase - reminding herself why she’s doing this. “Paris” she said in a quiet whisper to herself, as she envisioned what it would be like walking the streets, trying the food, and getting to discover something for once in her life. With her suitcase rolling behind her, she tiptoed into the kitchen trying to be as discrete as possible, “Kevin? Max?? Christine?!” Thank GOD they had left already, the last thing I need is my annoying older siblings ratting me out. She picked up her suitcase and took it outside to the car, neatly placing it in the trunk next to four other bags she put there last night. She walked back to her house, grabbing her purse and locking the door behind her as she ran to her car and started the engine, unknowingly dropping her map by the front steps outside. As Samantha started the engine and began to drive she plugged her iPhone in and played the song We Can’t Stop from her Spring Break playlist. “I LOVE this song!” Samantha squealed with excitement as her smile gleamed and she began singing at the top of her lunges “WE CAN’T STOP, AND WE WON’T STOP-” but her joyous moment was interrupted by the ringing of her phone, as Samantha picked up the phone to answer it
“Hello, who is this?”
“Samantha, it’s your mom.”
---- ---- ----  “Hey mom, do you need something?
“Yes, I just wanted to make sure you made it to school okay.”
Wow, she’s playing the part of the concerned parent for once, two claps for her “Yeah…I made it to school-” Samantha said as she turned the curb and drove right past her High school “Look mom I need to go the teachers coming back into the room” and with that she hung up “au revoir amérique” Paris here I COME. As Samantha pulled up to the airport and took care of all the necessities she walked and checked the time “9:30 A.M” my flight leaves at 10 so I’ve still got some time… “Wow I can’t believe I’m actually going to do this” she said out loud as she made her way to the waiting area. You know what? I don’t know what I was so worried about, this has been my dream ever since I was a little kid…I can do this. By the time my parents notice I’m gone I’ll be on the plane anyway, she thought, as she smiled to herself.
Samantha got up and went over to the coffee shop to get something to drink leaving her backs unattended, when a strange man walked up to her and started to speak
“Hello, Miss”
“Um? Hi?”
“Where are you headed to?”
Samantha eyed the man up and down, he smells like he hasn’t showered in weeks and he looks like he got roughed up a bit. This conversation needs to end she thought as she reluctantly answered his question and stepped up to grab her coffee
“Paris for Spring Break” she retorted quickly as she showed him her ticket “see”
“Lucky gal, you are. I always wanted to go Paris-”
But there conversation was abruptly interrupted by a very unwelcoming voice “SAMANTHA CALDORON JONES, WHERE THE HECK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING?”
“MOM!” Samantha shouted as she snapped her body around causing her to spill her coffee and drop her ticket…leaving the man behind her just enough time to snag it without either of them noticing.
“Yes. MOM. Now, come home! We’re leaving,” Samantha’s mom said as she tightly grasped her daughter but Samantha quickly yanked away
“No.” she quietly said as she took a couple steps back and looked her mother in the eyes.
“What do you mean No? I’m your mother!”
“Oh yeah? Since when?! All you and Dad ever care about are Kevin, Max, and Christine. You ALWAYS support them and whatever they want they get. I never ask you guys for anything. I work hard, and got where I am today because of ME not YOU! The only thing I ever asked you guys was for permission to travel…but apparently that was too much to ask. I wasn’t asking for money, or for you to pay for anything just your permission-” Samantha paused as she was trying to hold back her tears, she continued to talk as she walked to her seat “I’ve had so many opportunities to travel but every single time, you guys made me turn them down. But when Christine wanted to go on a cruise with her friends that was NO problem, when Max wanted a car that was NO problem, and when Kevin STOLE your credit card to go on a spending spree he just got a pat on the BACK! But God forbid I want to travel and education myself with the rest of the world we live in.”
“Well, they’re OLDER then you. They get more privileges.”
“Is that seriously the only argument you have? Those three combined are they most irresponsible people I know, and anyone with half a brain cell would know it too. Or maybe they’re just your favorite… were four kids too much for you.” Samantha said quietly but dryly, causing her mother to sit down and sigh in defeat
“Look, they’re not my favorites alright? I just...—”
“What?”
“Your father wanted to let you go, but I didn’t so he reluctantly agreed with me.”
“Why would you do that? You know how important this is to me…”
“I was…afraid”
“Afraid?” Samantha repeated her mother’s words in confusion as her voice softened a bit “of what?”
“Of what you could become out there on your own. I’ve noticed how out of control your siblings are, but they’re older and there’s nothing I can do about it. I figured if I could hold onto you as long as possible…you’d be okay. I’m sorry, it wasn’t fair. I should have trusted you….Do you forgive me?”
“Well, with children like that I can understand why you didn’t” Samantha joked as she turned her full attention to her mom. “I forgive you mom, I just wish you had talked to me about it. Max, Kevin, and Christine may not be the best role models but by watching them mess up I’ve learned right from wrong. You don’t have to worry, I’ll be okay”
“I know that now” Samantha’s mom said as she smiled and embraced her daughter in a hug.
“Mom, I have a question” Samantha said as she checked her watch 9:55 and stood up “How did you know that I was here?”
“Well when the school called and said you weren’t in class, I went home to check the house and I found your map with all your plans on it”
“Wow I can’t believe I dropped this, I would’ve been so lost without it. But honestly? I’m glad you found it. This makes everything ten times easier knowing we’re okay. It’s like a burden lifted off my shoulders.”
“Me too sweetheart, do you have everything you need?”
“Yup, I have my bags, my map, and my-” Samantha stopped mid-sentence as she felt her back pocket for her ticket but her eyes widen when she realized it wasn’t there “ticket…”
“What’s wrong?”
“My ticket! It was right here in my pocket when I was getting coffee now it’s not-” but as soon as those last two words escaped her mouth she knew exactly what happen “the guy I was standing next took must’ve taken my ticket while I wasn’t paying attention….what am I going to do now? Am I going to have to go home?”
“No way! You’ve been looking forward to this for way too long, how much time do we have?”
Samantha checked her watch one more time 10:00 “No time. It’s 10 and people are already boarding” Just as both of them were about to give up red lights started flashing and the airport cops came running past them and tackled a man trying to get onto the plane “Hey! That’s the guy that stole my ticket!” Samantha shouted as she ran towards the cops leaving her mom to carry her bags over.
“Is your name Samantha Jones ma’am?” the cop asked while holding the guy in cuffs
“Yes, it is. Look here” Samantha said, as she rummaged through her purse and showed the cop her license.
The cop looked at the ticket and then her license, then handed both back to her “Sorry for the inconvenience, have a nice trip Miss!” The cop shouted as he walked away with a criminal in his arms.
“Your ticket please?” The ticket agent asked while she patiently waited by the side of the door,
As Samantha was getting ready to board the plane, with her bags in her hand and a smile on her face she turned around and gave her mom a huge hug and whispered “Thank you”
And before she could go anywhere her mom grabbed her by the arm “Have an amazing trip Sam, I love you” and with that she was gone. Ready to start the next journey in her life; and ready to find herself.