Chapter One : Learning To Fly..

   "If this is her decision, then we will give her our full support.."

   Mother and father nodded in silence, hearing grandmother's solemn voice.

   Her sister turned to look at her, "are you sure?" 

   She had never been away from her family for more than a month and the only time she'd been away was because she enrolled in the University and had to stay in a dormitory. But the University is barely an hour away from their home and she would drop by every two days or so.

   "Yes," she nodded. It was her final decision. 

   Doing her master's degree in Korea was never in her initial plan but certain things had happened that changed the whole course of her life.

   "At least she's still in Asia..." Grandmother smiled at her. The poor soul, she had been so simple. Unlike her volatile and expressive younger sister, Nic, Sam had always been the quiet and obedient one. She had always had clear vision of what her life would be ever since she was very young. She agreed to everything her parents told her to do, she listened to whatever the grown-ups told her- in fact she couldn't even remember this child ever said 'no' even once.

   Everybody had believed that life would be very easy on her. A girl with such grace, such simple nature, maturity beyond her years- surely she won't experience any downfall in her life. But then as it turned out- life has a mind of its own. The simple life of Sam, encountered a major  turbulence within the course of just two months. And the saddest part was- all of them had played a part in making her life that way. 
   If only they had not been that trusting of other people. If only they had been protecting her a little bit more. If only.... 

   Sam, the quiet and mature one of the Clement sisters- she had gone through so much because of their wrong decision. Who could blame her if she wants to get away from everything now? Who could blame her with that decision, when the situation she is right now was their fault? 
   Perhaps, this is what she needs. A time on her own. A time of her own. She had always been the one to listen. Perhaps it is not their turn to do so.

   Grandmother took her hands slowly and held them up, "listen to your heart..Do whatever you want, whatever you need to do- with our blessings."

   Sam could see the tears in her grandmother's eyes and her heart broke again- for the hundreds of times within these past few months. She looked at her father, and her mother, who's by now openly crying, she looked at her sister then her brother who was clenching and unclenching his fists- holding back emotions.

   "Don't worry you guys."She said, as a couple of tears fell down her cheeks, the sadness, the hurt she felt for letting her family get through this kind of pain was becoming overwhelming again.    
   She had cried so much these past few months, something she had never done before. She felt like she had let her family down, so much so that she felt like dying every time she saw the pain in their eyes. It was so painful that she really thought she had, just had to go away, anywhere, for some time but just couldn't bring herself to say anything to her family.

   God seemed to answer her silent plea, when she heard from her best friends who had been planning to do their masters at the prestigious Hankuk University when they're in their final year. As soon as they heard what had happened, they immediately met her, consoled her and offered her to come along. They had always begged her to come, but her plan was very clear from day one. Her life is here, as her family had planned. She would settle down, have a quiet but successful career and build a family. But that was two months ago. Now- everything had changed. 

   So, she said yes, without thinking it over, because now she had a reason to go. She's going away to further her study- thus she won't have to hurt her family even more than they're already hurting by saying it was she who wanted to go away. 
   She had never been apart from them. They had been and will always be her pillar of strength, but for the time being she needed time to come to terms to what she had done. She needed to figure things on her own. She knew that she desperately needed time to forgive herself. And she just didn't think that she could do that here, facing her family everyday. Be reminded of her guilt everyday. 
   She knew that they probably know the real reason why she wanted to go, but it's easier when she said with her mouth, that she wanted to go study abroad. 
   And her family, who understands her so well, is willing to let her go. Perhaps some time away from everything will heal the wound.

   "I will take care of myself. You all know me- I am strong-willed!" She smiled through her tears.

   And as the closely-knitted family hugged each other, they cried together in acceptance then laughed through the tears as they silently uttered prayers for a better future. 

   It is time for Samantha to go and experience the world. It is time for them to let her do things she wants. It is time for them to let her make the decisions for her own life.
   As sad and painful as it will to be apart from her, they know, that she will do well on her own.
   Their beloved Samantha- they are finally giving her wings to fly. And she will finally be learning how to fly.