The late August sun beat down on the brick courtyard of State University, casting long, golden shadows across the bustling campus path.
The heat of late summer vibrated off the concrete, carrying with it the frantic energy of freshman move-in day. College kids were hauling plastic storage bins, rolling clothes hampers across the grass, and tearfully waving goodbye to parents near parked minivans.
I stood near the entrance of the Social Sciences building, clutching a crisp, white campus map and a black leather notebook.
Six months had passed since my father signed his resignation papers, six months since I walked away from the high-walled cage of Maple Drive. I was wearing simple high-waisted denim shorts, a white ribbed tank top, and my favorite worn-in track sneakers. My long hair was
