Chapter 1 Time to Go Back…
655 Words
“Josephine Ana Drescu, blah blah blah magna c*m blah!” I couldn’t even stay zoned in enough to hear Dr. Lizmo had announced my name in acknowledgment of the past 6 years of blood, sweat, tears, and a lot of all nighters. I only snapped back to reality after hearing the excessive screaming and hooting my family was doing from the crowd. Realizing then that I should probably make my way across the stage and grab the outstretched diploma case Dean Summers was holding, with a very forced smile plastered on her face. Clearly uneasy with me holding up the ceremony, I hurried across the very bright stage and grabbed the diploma with my left hand. I used my right hand to pose for a picture, shaking Dean Summers’ hand. After the fastest picture of my life, I made my way down the stairs to take another picture in front of a USC backdrop holding my “diploma” and a single sunflower given to each graduate as they descended from the stage. I smiled and started back to my seat. I was able to make eye contact with all my family in attendance on the way, as they began hooting and hollering again. I held up my fist and displayed the “rock on” symbol with my fingers to them, and smirked as I took my seat.
You’d think I wouldn’t be so distracted, most people can’t wait for graduation. All their years of hard work finally coming to fruition, it’s the day we get to say, “we did it”. Don’t get me wrong, I am extremely excited and feel very accomplished to graduate. I have worked incredibly hard to get here. A bachelors and masters degree in interior design, all while playing for the school’s soccer team, turning into the graduate assistant when I used up my four years of eligibility. Now here I am, graduating with a masters degree and all I can think about is going back to the pack today….
It’s not that I don’t like being a wolf. I just haven't been around that life in so long and I don’t really prefer to think about it. You see, while I have a great and supportive family, there’s just something missing, my parents. They were murdered when I was 12 years old, but my parents weren’t just any wolves, they were the Alpha and Luna of our pack. Alpha Phillip and Luna Maya Drescu of the Sun Lake Pack to be exact. My father, Phillip, was a strong and respected Alpha, and my mother, Maya, well she was a feisty but compassionate and loved Luna, by all the pack members. The sad news of their murder came as a shock to many of the packs in the Midwest, considering how loved and respected both my parents were, they had many allies.
After their murder, my Uncle Sam and Aunt Tia became my guardians. Great people. Uncle Sam is my dad’s cousin on his dad's side, and was his beta/best friend all their lives. Since I was only 12 and had no siblings, the Elders and pack voted for my Uncle Sam to take over as Alpha for my father, which made Aunt Tia, Luna. He accepted and vowed to run the pack in a way that would honor my parents, and has done so since. But, it doesn’t change the fact that every time I have thought about the pack, I can’t help but think about my parents murder.
But, while I am closing the door on this chapter of my life, a new door is opening. I left Sun Lake a pup, and am returning as a badass she wolf.
- Writer
