As Sarah stepped inside, she was greeted by the familiar sights and sounds of her adoptive parents' home. Her adoptive father was sitting in his usual chair, reading a book and sipping his evening tea. Her adoptive mother was busy in the kitchen, preparing dinner. Sarah's heart skipped a beat as she thought about how to break the news about the band.
She cleared her throat, trying to sound casual. "Hey Mom, hey Dad," she said, a nervous smile on her face. "How was your day?"
Her adoptive father looked up from his book, his eyes shining with warmth.
"It was a good day, thank you, Sarah," he said, his voice warm and welcoming. "How about you? Did you have a good time with your friends?"
Sarah nodded, her smile faltering slightly. "Yeah, it was great," she said, trying to sound casual. "We had a lot of fun."
Her adoptive mother appeared in the doorway, a plate of food in her hands. "That's wonderful, dear," she said, her voice full of affection. "But make sure you're not neglecting your studies. You know how important it is to get good grades."
Sarah bit her lip, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that now was the time to tell them about the band, but she couldn't find the words.
"Actually, Mom, there's something I want to tell you," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I've joined a band with some friends. We're going to compete in a local music competition."
Her adoptive parents exchanged a glance, their expressions unreadable. Sarah's heart sank, and she braced herself for their response.
Sarah's adoptive parents remained silent for a moment, their faces still unreadable. Finally, her adoptive mother spoke, her voice tinged with disappointment.
"Sarah, we're glad that you're pursuing your interests," she said, her voice measured and calm. "But we think it would be best if you focus on your studies. Music is a hobby, not a career. We don't want you to get sidetracked."
Sarah's heart sank even further, her eyes filling with tears. "But Mom, this is important to me," she pleaded. "I really love music.
Sarah's adoptive father, sensing the tension in the room, spoke up. "Sarah, I'm sorry, but we're not going to change our minds," he said, his voice firm. "You will be the heir to our family business, not a rockstar. Now, let's put this matter to rest."
Sarah bit her lip, fighting back tears. She knew there was no point in arguing any further.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway, and a small figure appeared at the door. It was Sarah's adoptive sister, Lily, who was ten years old.
Lily skipped into the room, her eyes wide with excitement. "Hey Sarah!" she said, her voice full of energy. "What's going on?"
Sarah forced a smile, her heart heavy with disappointment. "Nothing much, Lily," she said, trying to sound cheerful. "Just talking with Mom and Dad."
Lily cocked her head to the side, her eyes filled with curiosity. "About what?" she asked, her voice innocent and sweet.
Sarah hesitated, not wanting to burden her young sister with her problems. But Lily was persistent, and eventually Sarah gave in.
"Nothing special," Sarah said, her voice trying to sound light and carefree. "Just talking about school, you know."
Lily nodded, her face full of understanding. "Oh, okay," she said, her voice sweet and trusting. "Well, I hope you get good grades! Mom and Dad really like it when you do well in school."
Sarah forced a smile, her heart aching with the reminder of her parents' expectations. "Yeah, they do," she said, her voice a whisper.
Lily skipped off to her room, leaving Sarah alone with her adoptive parents.
Sarah's adoptive parents looked at her with mixed expressions, their love for her evident in their eyes, but their worry about her choices clear on their faces.
"Sarah," her adoptive mother said, her voice gentle but firm. "We only want what's best for you. You have so much potential, and we don't want to see you waste it on something as fleeting as music."
Sarah felt her resolve hardening inside of her. "But Mom, this isn't just a passing interest," she said, her voice strong and determined. "This is something I'm really passionate about.
Sarah's adoptive father had reached his limit. "Enough!" he shouted, slamming his hand on the table. "We're not going to argue about this anymore. The matter is settled. You will focus on your studies and forget about this band business."
Sarah felt her anger rising, and without a word, she turned and stormed up to her room, the sound of her footsteps echoing on the stairs.
Her adoptive mother watched her go, a look of sorrow on her face. "I'm worried about her," she said, her voice low and soft.
Her adoptive father sighed, his shoulders sagging with weariness. "So am I," he said, his voice full of concern. "But we can't let her throw away her future just because she's infatuated with music."
Her adoptive mother nodded, her eyes shining with tears. "I know, but she's such a good girl. She doesn't deserve to feel this way."
The two of them sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their fears and worries heavy on their shoulders.
Sarah's room was a reflection of her creative spirit. The walls were adorned with posters of her favorite bands and colorful tapestries, and the floor was covered with an eclectic mix of rugs. The bed was unmade, and clothes were strewn about the room, a testament to Sarah's busy and independent life.
As she entered, Sarah let out a scream of frustration, her anger boiling over. She knew that her room was soundproof, a recent addition she had insisted upon to allow for her late-night music sessions.
She looked around, her eyes wild with anger.
Sarah's hands balled into fists as she stood in the center of her room, her mind swirling with a storm of emotions. She knew she couldn't let her anger consume her, but the rejection and disappointment she felt was too much to bear.
She grabbed a pillow and threw it against the wall, watching as it bounced off and landed on the floor. Then, she picked up a stack of papers from her desk and threw them into the air, watching as they fluttered to the ground like snowflakes.
Sarah's rage was unrelenting. She grabbed a framed picture of her adoptive family and threw it against the wall with a loud crash, the glass shattering into a thousand pieces. Then, she ripped a poster of her favorite band from the wall, tearing it to shreds in a fit of rage.
Finally, she collapsed onto her bed, her body shaking with anger and exhaustion. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared at the ceiling, her mind racing with thoughts of her band and her adoptive parents.