On her usual walk home, she blinked, and the trees seemed to have grown older in an instant. As the leaves begin to fall, she realizes time has gone by. With every step she takes, she hears the crunch of the leaves under her boots. The crunches of the leaves begin to sound like a clock ticking, more decisions to make, she’s growing up. Each one sounds like a reminder of how quickly time is changing. She has finally reached the age she's always yearned to be; it's nothing like the movies described. Freedom. Freedom is what she was promised, and along with that freedom came sorrow. That sorrow was quiet, living beneath the surface of her skin, spreading with every question about her big plans after high school. The long nights staring at the ceiling, longing to know her purpose.
The marks on the insides of her cheeks are evidence of all the pressure she is biting away. Laughing awkwardly when hearing the college plans and five-year goals of everyone around her. Her backpack feels heavier than usual, not due to books but from all she feels is unfinished, unanswered. Sometimes out of nowhere, she gets flashbacks of being on the playground, her hair blowing in the wind, yelling like the world was hers and only hers. Unbeknownst that those moments would be the most liberated she would ever feel.
The realization creeps in slowly but surely, and once it hits her, it never leaves. “Wait, is this really happening?” she mutters as she gets ready for her graduation photos. At times, it feels surreal that she's never going to be the kid she was before. She stares into the mirror, adjusting her gown, attempting to recognize herself. It feels like she blinked, and everyone expects her to be ready to face the real world. Time doesn’t wait for anyone. She now understands that growing up isn’t just about gaining freedom but learning how to use it.
What inspired me most to write this story is being a senior in high school. It feels surreal and scary. This reminds me of those times I thought would last forever. I based the character on myself. I wrote this story to truly express how it feels to be almost an adult. The transition to adulthood can make me feel overwhelmed, and I wanted to demonstrate the emotional complexity of this period. This story reflects profound themes of personal growth. Exploring the freedom of being near something great, but also the anxiety and confusion that come with it. Alongside that, I decided to name my piece Landslide, reminding me of the feelings that the song “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac evokes. To me, this song describes what it feels like to grow older, despite not feeling ready. I'm excited to embark on a new chapter of my life, but listening to this song is a gentle reminder that little me still exists somewhere deep inside me.