Farewell

A mouse leaves home

Photo by Yunu Dinata on Unsplash

I’m leaving home, again.

I love to leave home. I am never the same person away from home. I never have to be the same person away from home.

At home, I am meek and cowering. That is who my parents want me to be. That is who they made me. It is easier for them if I am a mouse instead of a girl. They want me to be an even smaller mouse as my age gets closer to adulthood.

Women may speak their minds. Women may have opinions. Women may not always do as they are told.

Today is the last time I will ever leave home.

Today I am twenty, and I do have opinions. I’m done doing as I’m told. I will speak my mind.

The first and last thing I have to say to you is, “Farewell!”