Epilogue

"Are you going to open it or what?" Ash asks impatiently as I stare at the crisp envelope from the Nashville Art and Design College.

Ash and Donnie already moved into their dorms last week at Vanderbilt. After days of going back and forth with Donnie's decision to accept an offer with Illinois instead of Nashville, he finally agreed to live his dream go where he belonged for the first time.

You can imagine how thrilled his parents were. When Donnie saw the pure happiness in my eyes, I think he knew we would be ok no matter what obstacles came our way or the distance between us. He has to live his dream, and I won't stop fighting for him.

He finally gave in, and my heart won.

That's when Ash came across a contest to win a full scholarship to the art college in Nashville. I created a portfolio of my work, from the moment I started taking pictures until these past few months. I made sure to capture every smile, every tear, and every captivating moment that will be frozen in time for eternity.

My life has become a work of art. The camera is my heart. The lenses are my eyes. The film is my world.

Every picture has a story, and all the hurt, pain, emotional scars, and happiness I've experienced are wrapped up in a collection of love, survival, and forgiveness. Photography tells the story I failed to put into words.

"Hurry up, Shorty, before Donnie walks in," Ash whispers through the video cam. A laugh bubbles out of me when I see how close his face is to the camera.

"Ok, ok." With trembling hands, I grab the corner of the envelope and tear it back. I pull the letter out and started to read.

"Dear Mercedes, we are pleased to offer you admission to the Nashville Art and Design—"

"Yeah, baby! Hell, yes!" Ash hollers, not allowing me to finish.

"I did it." I chuckle with a whisper.

I can't believe it.

I did it.

I'm going to college.