Survival Of The Fittest

''So,'' mom began, ''What about college apps?''

''What about them?''

''Don't you think you're being a little to... ambitious? No offense. It's just that you know these portfolios will have to take a lot of time. Are you sure you want to do this many sketchbooks?''

...

''I'll compromise, mom. It'll be fine. It's just one year of work, and then-''

''Four years after that. Maybe more. And then actual work. Cheer up! It's your last chance at being a kid.''

...

''Alright.''

....

.....

......

''So, uh.......

You're dead-set on Calarts, right?''

''No?''

One day Erika took the bus to somewhere a miles and miles away, the furthest from home she's ever gone by herself, and she turned her phone off and did nothing but read and write and look at the walls all day, and it was the best she's ever felt. When she returned home, she realized that her dad didn't even notice she was gone.

So she did it again.

And again, and again, and again.

Grandma called the police to report her as a missing teen, and she didn't notice it, because she was too busy drawing people on the sidewalk.