~I'M DONE~

~The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams~

- Oprah Winfrey

Song - Started from the bottom by Drake

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"You got that right, Ma. I'm done," Aubrey said to Emily over the phone.

"Aubrey, you can't just quit engineering!" Emily bawled. "I've put in so much just to ensure you-"

"Yo, momma, I ain't interested no more. What is done is done, so let it slide, a'ight? I AM DONE!"

"Calm down! Don't be dramatic," Emily said, her voice firm but laced with concern.

"You think I'm being dramatic? You have no idea, Ma. I've been miserable in trying to pretend I like engineering. And I'm done pretending," Aubrey said, his voice rising.

"Aubrey, engineering is a stable career. It's a good future. What are you going to do instead? Play that mf basketball and choose it as a mf career?"

"Actually, Ma, yes. That is what I'm gonna do. I'm done with you trying to control my life. I'm an adult. It's time you started treating me like one."

There's a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, Aubrey wondered if his mother had hung up on him. But then Emily spoke, her voice cold and detached.

"Fine, Aubrey. If that's how you feel, then maybe you should start supporting yourself. I'm done paying for your education. You're on your own now."

Aubrey felt a sting from his mother's words, but he refused to back down. "That's perfectly fine. I'll take care of myself. And I'll be happy doing it."

With that, Aubrey hung up, throwing his phone on the ground.

Emily on the other hand, sat down on the couch, feeling deflated and defeated. She let out a deep sigh, running her hands through her hair as she stared blankly at the wall. The conversation with Aubrey had left her feeling drained and frustrated. She had always envisioned a certain path for her child, and Aubrey's decision to quit engineering felt like a personal rejection.

As she sat there, Emily's mind began to wander back to all the times she had pushed Aubrey to excel, all the late nights and early mornings spent helping with homework and projects. She had always thought she was doing what was best for Aubrey, but now she couldn't shake the feeling that she had been wrong.

Her eyes began to well up with tears as she realized that her relationship with Aubrey might be more damaged than she had thought.

Aubrey sat on his bed, running both hands down his face with his elbows on his knees. This isn't how he wanted things to turn out, but he knew he couldn't keep living a lie. He thought about the weight of his mother's expectations, the pressure to succeed that had been suffocating him.

"I did the right thing, innit?" he questioned himself.

Aubrey let out a deep sigh, feeling a mix of emotions: guilt, anxiety, but also a sense of relief. He knew he had made the right decision for himself, but he also knew that it would take time for his mother to understand and accept it.

He stood up from the bed and walked over to the window, staring out at the campus field. He felt a sense of uncertainty about what the future held, but he was determined to make a new path for himself, one that was true to who he was.

Grabbing his basketball and jersey, he strolled to the court to clear his mind. The cool evening air and the sound of the ball bouncing on the court were just what he needed to calm his thoughts. He began to shoot hoops, the rhythmic swish of the net and the squeak of his sneakers on the court providing a soothing escape from the tension of his earlier conversation with his mother.

As he played, Aubrey felt his worries slowly fade away. He lost himself in the game, his muscles relaxing as he moved fluidly around the court. The stress and anxiety of the day melted away with each shot, each dunk, and each satisfying bounce of the ball.

"Yo!"

Aubrey paused his game, and turned to see who walked into the court.

"What up, Jake?" he greeted, walking over to Jake and exchanging a brodie handshake with him.

"You practicing alone?" Jake asked, taking his grey shirt off to put on his jersey.

"Yeah, just needed to clear my head," Aubrey replied, nodding towards the court. "You know how it is."

Jake nodded sympathetically, his eyes squinting slightly as he tied the laces of his sneakers. "Rough day?"

Aubrey shrugged, picking up his ball and beginning to dribble it lazily. "Just had a fight with my mom. She ain't happy about me quitting engineering."

Jake's expression turned serious, and he nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, I can imagine. But hey, you gotta do what's best for you, right?"

Aubrey snapped his fingers, while raising his brows in agreement. "Exactly."

Jake got up, clapping Aubrey on the back. "Now, how about we make this practice a bit more interesting? Loser buys dinner at the cafeteria."

Aubrey's eyes lit up, and he grinned, feeling a welcome distraction from his troubles. "You're on!"

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Sophie stood tall, her eyes locked on Julian Saint's, as she uttered the single word that would change everything.

"No."

The air in the room seemed to thicken, the tension palpable. Julian's eyes narrowed, as he clenched his jaw in anger.

"You're refusing to do what I ask?" he spat, his voice low and menacing.

Sophie swallowed hard, but she didn't back down. "I'm refusing to do something that's wrong, Mr. Saint. Something that could hurt innocent people."

Julian sneered, his lips curling up in disgust. "Innocent people? Ha! You're so naive, Sophie. You think you're above the game, but you're just a pawn. A pawn that's about to be sacrificed."

Sophie felt a shiver run down her spine as Julian's words dripped with malice. She knew she had to stand her ground, no matter how intimidating he was.

"I won't do it," she repeated, her voice firm. "I won't compromise my values or my integrity."

Julian's face turned red with rage, his eyes bulging with fury. "You're fired, Sophie," he bellowed, his voice echoing off the walls. "You're done. Finished. You'll never work in this casino again."

Sophie felt a pang of fear, but she refused to let it consume her. She stood tall, as she looked Julian straight in the eye.

"I'd rather be unemployed than compromise my values," she said, her voice steady.

Julian's laughter was cold and mirthless. "You're making a big mistake, Sophie. A big mistake. You'll regret this. You'll regret ever crossing me."

"I'm done," she said, turning to walk away.

But Julian's voice stopped her. "You think you're so smart, don't you? But I'll tell you something, Sophie. I'll ruin you. I'll make sure you never work again. I'll destroy your life. And I'll make sure you regret ever crossing me."

Sophie felt a wave of fear wash over her, but she refused to let it consume her. She turned to face Julian.

"I'm not afraid of you, Mr. Saint," she said, her voice steady. "I'm not afraid of your threats or your power. I'm not afraid of you because I know I'm doing the right thing."

"You're making a big mistake, Sophie. A big mistake."

Sophie turned and walked away, her head held high. She knew she had made the right decision, no matter how hard it would be. She was willing to stand up for what she believed in, even if it meant standing alone.

She went back to her station to grab her things and head out.

"You've killed yourself, you know that?" Lily's voice boomed, making Sophie jump slightly.

Holding her chest, Sophie exhaled in relaxation before facing Lily properly. "If I die, I die. I'm dying anyway."

Lily creased her brows at Sophie's statement.

"I won't live my last days, dealing on drugs! So fuck off," she said firmly,  shoving Lily aside and brushing past her.

She got to the reception and Vivian's gaze lingered on her, but she didn't have the strength to explain things. So all she said was, "Goodbye."

She walked out of the casino, stepping into the cold night. Hugging her elbows, she regretted wearing a crop top without a jacket.

Sophie took a deep breath and started walking, her feet carrying her away from the casino and towards a future that was uncertain, but full of possibility. She knew she had made the right decision. Why would I export drugs for Julian? She thought.

While walking back to campus, Sophie couldn't help but wonder what Julian Saint had planned for her. Would he really ruin her life? Sophie didn't know, what to expect next.

She quickened her pace, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she had to be careful, that she had to watch her back. But she also knew that she couldn't let fear control her.

As Sophie walked, the city seemed to stretch out before her like a vast, uncertain landscape. She knew she had to navigate it carefully, that she had to be brave and strong.

Suddenly, an unconscious smile fell on her lips as she remembered what she did in Julian's office.

Sophie pulled out her phone and played a recording, listening to it carefully before mumbling, "This will do the trick."

She dialed a number. It rang several times before a voice answered.

"Hello. Los Angeles Police Department, how can I assist you?" the voice on the other end of the line said.

Sophie took a deep breath before launching into her story. "Hello, I'd like to report a crime. . ."

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