From Puppet Daughter to Powerhouse

as a slow burn, th

ated, done being isolated, do

she wanted to see me interacting with a

ent to Facebook, and

tic-looking guy with a guitar slung over his shoulder, maybe

Ryder

ion: Mu

etry, late ni

ything Susa

I started sending messages to my

ampus. You have this vibe...

ours, then reply

nks. I've se

intense, more personal, hin

u? Like you're in a box. I get tha

lly talk. Somewhere

mps were believable, sp

ook messages eventually, especially if I started acting a litt

ed away from the camera. I smiled vaguely

n't ta

ng our video call,

distracted. Is so

t tired. Lots

quiet. Who are you messaging on F

it was

class," I said, try

our screen. Or give me your password

it. She just wanted

t's not n

I am your mother, and I have a right to

matic, put-upon

her my password, the

ear her typing i

lence. Then, her vo

Ryder

e. "Ryder? He's..

ends.' 'You have this vibe... I dig it'? 'We should

Mom. He's really

amy look cr

He sounds like trouble. A musici

knife. "He said maybe pre-law isn't for me. May

. My pre-law track was her d

ed. "You are not throwing away your future for some... s

g a note of defiance. "I'm falling for him.

ent silent

, Emily, I will pull you out of that college so

t hung in

d of fear, I felt a s

t. The bre