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“It’s a large space,” she says. “I think it will take you most of the break to complete it. They plan to pay you for your time and work.”
“I’m up for the job,” I promise, realizing what a huge opportunity this is and knowing that I’ll need the money to afford staying here.
Her smile grows again. “I know you are. That’s why I recommended you for it.”
“Thank you so much, Esme.”
I’m thanking her for the mural commission, but also for believing in me. No matter how self-sufficient I think I am, how independent, I still need people in my corner. I’m insecure about my art. It’s nice to feed off their confidence in my abilities when I doubt myself.
“You’re welcome, Emerson. I’ll have more details for you in the next few days.” She squeezes my arm. “And I can’t wait to see what you create.”
Esme starts gathering her things. I turn to go.
“Oh, one more thing,” she says before I leave. “They want the hockey arena included in the mural. The owner is apparently a big sports fan.”
I nod. “No problem.” I’m already planning the picture in my head and the way I’ll paint the sky …
Suki straightens from her spot against the building when I exit. “What was that about?”
“One of the businesses in town wants a wall painted. A picture of campus. They asked me to do it.”
My best friend’s face lights up, and she turns to me as we fall into step together. “Are you serious? That’s awesome, Em!” We take a few more steps. “Maybe I should’ve become a painter rather than a sculptor.”
I laugh. “I don’t think you’ll be saying that when I come to your gallery openings, and you’re a famous sculptor, selling out all her work.”
Suki is really talented. I believe she will be in galleries one day, showing her pieces, and that she’ll be incredibly popular.
“One can dream …” she sighs.
“It’ll happen,” I add. “Oh, and the best part about the mural … they’re going to pay me for it.” I pause as we continue walking across campus. “Which couldn’t come at a better time because my parents are cutting me off.”
Suki stops, pulling me off the pathway when a guy almost runs into the back of us. “What? When?”
“Last night, when I told them I officially declared my major in the visual arts.”
My friend looks angry on my behalf. She seems even madder than I was when it happened. I wasn’t surprised when my parents and I fought after my declaration. I hadn’t expected them to be happy about it. But I also hadn’t anticipated that they would stop paying my tuition.
“I know they’ve never supported your art,” she scoffs indignantly, “which I’ve never understood. You’re so talented, Em. If you were my kid, I’d be so proud of your abilities. I just don’t get it.”
I stay quiet. I mean, really, what is there to say? Their lack of support has always hurt. But with that pain came a determination to do things my way. I plan to show them that I can turn my passion into a career, to prove them wrong. Even if I have to struggle, it’s worth it to me to do something that I love rather than be miserable while working a nine-to-five position that I loathe every day. The more we disagree about my future path, the more the distance grows between us. And now, the struggle becomes real because I’ll be forced to take out student loans and get a part-time job if I want to continue at the university without their financial support.
“What are you going to do?” she asks after a few beats of silence.
“I’ll look into financial aid. I have an appointment with an adviser later this week. I’ll figure things out,” I assure her, sounding more confident than I actually am. But I’m also resolved to forge my own way. The entire situation has lit a fire beneath me.
We start walking again.
“In a way, it’s a relief. If they aren’t paying for things, they have no say in my life or my choices. I’ll be truly on my own at this point.”
Suki nods. “People say that. But paying for college isn’t cheap. And then there are living expenses …”
I side-eye her. “Whose side are you on?”
“Yours,” she insists. She pauses, biting her lower lip. “I’m just worried. I can’t imagine being here without you.”
“Yeah, well, that makes two of us.”
We enter a coffee shop on the edge of campus and order a couple of iced lattes. Once they are in hand, we sit at a table in the corner.
