Chapter 1: Dreaming of Freedom

For the first time, I found myself in a dream where my parents appeared. It felt like I was traversing through time and space, revisiting various moments in my life where I often felt out of place. In every scenario, my parents lingered nearby, always busy in the kitchen, quietly working side by side.

As I wandered through a school building characterized by bland beige tiles and harsh fluorescent lights, I passed through a gymnasium filled with the sounds of children playing. Suddenly, a man with a whistle yelled at me, “Hey! Bring me two chairs!” His tone was commanding, devoid of any courtesy or even a glance in my direction.

From above, I watched myself hesitate, torn between complying and resisting. After a moment of reflection, I chose to ignore him. “Always so damn lazy,” I heard him mutter. I realized that if he couldn’t ask politely, I wasn’t obliged to respond.

Next, I found myself at a water fountain, observing a colleague fill her metal water bottle. Once the fountain’s hissing stopped, I felt an urge to assert, “You know I’m not trapped here. None of us are — I won’t be. Just watch me.”

Nearby, a man with calloused hands helped me move furniture. I felt a need to keep my voice down so as not to disturb my parents in the kitchen. His indifference unsettled me. “You still have choices,” I reminded him, but he merely shrugged.

The school, laden with disrespect and apathy, was a place I refused to remain. I wouldn’t accept being labeled lazy, needy, or stuck, nor would I endure those insults any longer.

Chapter 2: The Gift of Awareness

In another scene, my parents were still in the kitchen, while the apathetic man lounged on a couch. I made myself small on a loveseat, where he held a remote control, looking at me with a puzzled expression. The remote’s back cover was missing, exposing the batteries.

I shrugged, “Happens often. It's an ADHD thing.” He suggested that if I found the cover, he could fix it permanently. I took a deep breath, considering my answer when my father suddenly appeared in front of me.

With an outstretched arm, he offered me six salmon-colored flowers, their soft edges tightly bundled. I heard his deep voice resonate within me: “Hey, dear. We see you, okay? You’re doing great, Nic. We’re right here.” My mother stood behind him, encouraging me to respond.

Perhaps their gesture was a reminder that I didn’t have to remain in those uncomfortable places. I could choose to detach the back of any remote if I wanted to. They might have come to remind me to reconnect with the girl they know best — the one buried beneath layers of expectations, apologies, and places where she feels she doesn’t belong.

This video discusses the three destinations I would never visit, reflecting on the reasons behind such decisions and the importance of personal boundaries.

This video explores the top fifteen forbidden places that are off-limits to the public, delving into the history and significance of each location.

Nicole Campbell is a poet, essayist, and memoirist who dedicated 22 years to sharing her love for reading and writing with elementary students. Now, she collaborates with fellow educators to implement research-driven, student-centered literacy and social-emotional curricula. Grateful for her blended family with her fiancé and their five sons, Nicole embraces her sensitivity as a superpower, writing about challenging emotions in a way that is both impactful and accessible.

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Twitter: @DCsdaughter6159