- ♦ username + ID: skywishes01 + 742710
♦ kalon link: Guinevere / archive post
♦ chosen prompt: What does their current bedroom look like?
♦ prompt response:

♦ token worth: 16 tokens
- fullbody [4]
- pixel [2]
- animation [5]
- background [5]
♦ chosen prompt: What's the bravest they've ever been?
♦ prompt response:
The apartment was nothing to write home about. A tiny little entranceway leading to a small kitchen and living space, and doors to a bathroom - no tub, just a shower - and a bedroom off to the left. No balcony or anything, either - although there were plenty of windows, which she was glad for. It made the small space look alot larger.
The furnishings were simple and functional; a couch in neutral tones, paired with a couple black kitchen stools - there was no dining table, only an extended island. There was a cabinet where one could perhaps place a television, but she’d have to save up for one herself. The bathroom had a plain white sink and steel shower fixtures, and the bedroom contained a single bed (not even a king single!), a side table, and a built-in wardrobe. Her mother would probably faint at the size of it. How can you live without a walk-in, darling?!
So sure, the apartment was perhaps a little drab. But it was hers. (At least in a renter’s sense; there was no way she could afford to just buy an apartment outright. Her family could, easily, but that was neither here nor there.)
Gwen dropped her bags with a sigh, collapsing onto the couch. It was surprisingly comfortable - more so than it looked. The key to the apartment was still nestled in her palm, and she could feel the hard, irregular edges when she curled her hand into a fist. She smiled; such a tiny thing, barely larger than a coin, and yet it meant more to her than all the money in the world.
I did it. I really, truly did it.
-
It was probably the bravest she’d ever been, that moment back in the family living room. She was never one to really speak out - had always been dominated by her many, louder siblings. She’d been waiting for a good moment for almost a week too, flitting around the house to see if she could catch her parents alone, anxiety building all the while. So when she returned from work one day to see them both in the lavish living room, eyes glued to some reality TV show, she didn’t give herself time to back out - she marched right in there, and opened her mouth before they could even say hello.
“Mom, Dad. I’m moving out.”
-
She didn’t really bring much with her - just clothes, some knickknacks, a couple old toys that she couldn’t bear to part with. She really wanted this to be a new start, the first chapter of a book she would write all by herself - but she knew deep down that, try as she might, she’d always owe something to her parents and her upbringing. She was proud of what she’d done, yes, but she felt a little guilty too - had she really achieved anything special? She’d had it easy her whole life. Was she being pretentious if she celebrated this small win?
She sighed. Well, this was the whole point of the move, wasn’t it? To learn. To know how to live outside the privileged bubble she’d been stuck in her entire life.
Half of her clothes had now been moved into the bedroom cupboard; perhaps it was time for a break. Standing up from the pile of miscellaneous laundry she’d been sorting through, she moved to the small window, resting her arms on the sill. The view, to other people, would perhaps be nothing special; a sea of buildings of varying shapes and sizes, a greyish sky just peeking over the concrete towers. Miniscule people scurrying back and forth on the sidewalks, some with umbrellas up to protect themselves from the slight drizzle. Cars stopping and starting in an oddly soothing rhythm.
An ordinary day, in every sense of the word - but to Gwen, this felt like she had climbed a mountain, and was looking down on a brand new world.
It felt like the start of something new.
-
It took a while for her parents to accept that she was actually leaving. There were so many questions, but for once, she was prepared for all of them. Yes, I am legally allowed to sign a rental agreement. I’m an adult now, mom. I did it last weekend. No! You don’t have to pay for it. I saved up myself. Remember all those summers and weekends working in the cafe? The after-school shifts?
Her father was the first to come around. He was a little more chilled out than her mother, and she liked to think he had a little bit of a soft spot for her, his little odd duckling. “Be careful out there, kiddo.”
Yeah, that was all the goodbye she was going to get from him. He rarely got emotional. But she would take it.
Her mother, though, was near hysterical for a couple of days. Gwen was honestly a little surprised - she knew she was far from her mother’s favorite child. She even suspected that her mother at times forgot about Gwen’s existence (she didn’t blame her, honestly; Gwen barely came out of her room except for work). So, she wasn’t quite sure how to deal with this emotional reaction. My baby, my poor baby! She’s leaving! How will she survive?
But eventually her mother calmed down. She didn’t tone down on the dramatics, though; giving her daughter a much-too-long hug while crying noisily on the day Gwen was to leave, and if she was being honest Gwen didn’t really catch what her mother said in her fifteen-minute monologue. She just patted her on the back awkwardly, hoping to be released soon.
Hey, she wasn’t being ungrateful or anything. She was just unsure how much of this was actually for her - and how much her mother was doing for herself.
-
Phew! Finally all unpacked.
She was able to do it within a single day, but she was still exhausted. Now she was collapsed on the couch, laptop perched on one knee, trying to get herself enrolled in some online science courses.
Next to her on the sofa pillows, her phone started buzzing. Someone was calling her. She glanced at the lit-up screen, before picking it up with a sigh.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Guinevere! How are you doing, sweetie? Have you eaten? Are you alive?”
Gwen rolled her eyes. “Mom, I only left a couple hours ago. I’m fine. And I’m about to eat dinner, just trying to sort out uni stuff.”
“Oh yes, university! I forgot you wanted to do that. Exciting, darling.” Her mother sounded distracted.
“Did you need something, Mom?” Gwen was also distracted; why were there so many forms to fill out just to access some online videos?
“No, nothing, darling. I just … “ Her mom took a deep breath. “I… I hope you have a good time, dear. We… me and your father… we miss you.”
A pause. Yet again, her mom had surprised her - because unlike her reaction in the weeks before, this time, she actually sounded… scared.
“I… yes.” Her mom kept talking. “I… I love you, Gwen.”
Click.
Before she could reply, her mom hung up. Gwen was left staring at her phone in shock. Huh.
She couldn’t remember the last time her mom had told her that. It must’ve been when she was very young. Her mom, while dramatic, was also rarely genuinely emotional. And up till now Gwen had thought she didn’t care too much about her wayward daughter - anything beyond the minimum concern of a parent, that was.
But perhaps she’d been wrong.
Perhaps now truly was the time for new beginnings, in more ways than one.
♦ token worth: 10 tokens [1274 words]
♦ token total for this post: 26 tokens
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