Follow Your Dreams To Find Purpose

crafting a story with Purpose as the prompt: Bronwyn decides to take the leap....

"You can't live small, Bronwyn. Promise me you'll follow your dreams."

We had been going over so many possibilities and scenarios. The planning and dreaming had given my mother immense pleasure and a focus on something other than her pain and cancer diagnosis. But as she became weaker, she was more insistent that I follow through.

"This is not just an exercise for fun. I want to see you start making the plans. Apply to that Writing Academy. Apply to get into that Scottish Writing Retreat. Finish your editing courses and start putting all that work into play. There is no harm in trying your hand at being a freelance editor so long as you also do your own writing. I want you to finish and publish this novel you have been working on so diligently. Dreams without action are only dreams. You must promise me, Bronwyn."

"I promise, mother."

"No empty promises, mind. I will haunt you if you stay here and do nothing but teach.... I know you love teaching, but you could be doing so much more. Your purpose is so much more than simply teaching children. Why not consider teaching adults to write while you travel around Europe. Use this crazy technology for good."

I pulled in a deep breath as I fought to calm the emotions that surged through me. I was hot, then cold. Even a little light headed. Such a bold change, but I knew she was right. I was still young and what did I really have here? No place to live once she was gone. That thought alone scared me, even though I knew my aunt was willing to take me in until I could get back on my own two feet.

"Take a leave and travel. Even for a year.... see what happens."

I nodded slowly as I let her words mix with the plans we had been toying with these last several months. A bubble of fear and nervous excitement skittered around my heart.

"I know you don't want to hear this, but I am getting so tired of this fight. My time here is coming to a close..." She waved me off when I tried to offer up a denial. "I love you and I want so much for you. Follow these dreams of yours. Make them a reality and fly. Who knows you may just meet the man of your dreams as well."

"Oh, mother," I said with a breathy laugh. "You're impossible. You know that?"

"I'm possible and so are you. You just have to believe."

I would come to miss those sessions. If I sat quietly I could still hear her encouraging me. I wanted to hold on to those moments, but I also feared holding too tightly would make them disappear all the more quickly. I decided I would breathe in calmly and let her spirit float in and around me. When I took the time to do that I felt I really could do it.

Several weeks before her final day I was able to show her the acceptance letters from both the Paris American Academy and Mainak Mohr, the writing retreat.

Before I could chicken out I put in my leave of absence for the following school year. It was a big step, but I decided to take the leap.

It was my aunt, also a teacher, who cheered me on the day my leave was granted. By then my mother had passed and I was crumpled. In our grief, my aunt reminded me of my mother's final wishes. Following my dreams was something she wanted me to do. I could take her with me in my heart as I traveled and found my way forward.

I expected my best friend, Wendy, to also support my dreams and be excited for me, but our conversation went slightly differently than I had hoped. I could feel an undertone of fear.

Wendy had been through a lot in the last several years as well. She was married to a narcissistic ass who was traumatizing her and their children. I had tried numerous times to get her to leave him, but she refused because she wasted her children to have their father. It was impossible to convince her he was doing more harm than good.

I had tried to be there for her, but things were becoming too much for me now that mom was gone. As the last months of school played out I stayed at my aunt’s house and visited with Wendy when I could. We often took long walks together. It was the one time she allowed some time for herself.

"I don't see the purpose of this, Bronwyn." she said as we took a break on a big rock along our usual trail hike.

"Why does that have to have a purpose? Why can't it just be to follow my dreams?"

"Yeah, but Bronwyn. To throw away your teaching career?"

"I'm not throwing away my career. I love teaching. I'm only taking a year off. "I took a swig from my water bottle. .

Wendy let out a rough sign before saying, "I know it's been a rough couple of years. Your mom's health and her dying; the fallout from that and your marriage, but this seems -- extreme. A whole year? Why not just take the summer?"

"I need this. Wendy. I really need this. Call it healing."

"I think you're running."

"From what? No, don't answer that. I don't wanna know. I just know I need this. Besides, I promised my mother and she said she'd haunt me if I didn't go. I don't need her haunting me - " We laughed at that. My mother could be ferocious when she needed to be.

We were quiet for a while taking in the bird song. I let the tension ease before adding, "I've seen so much negativity these last few years. I need a fresh perspective. And traveling is a dream and so is writing. Combining the two will be... just what I need. "

"I still don't understand." Wendy said, then giving another rough sigh she added, "I can't stop you. But I'll miss you. So much. It won't be the same without you here."

"We can still talk. I'm only a phone call away."

"Yeah. But that's not the same."

"You'll be too busy with your amazing life to even think of me."

""Oh, you and I both know that's bullshit."

We laughed. It was better than crying.

I worried about leaving Wendy but I had grown weary of her inaction. I could not force her to change if she didn't want to and I didn't want to watch her waste away if I stayed. I wanted to be there for her, but I knew we both needed to be strong and we could be strong without being physically together. That thought broke my heart and made me feel I was giving up on her, but I had made a promise to my mother and in a way that promise was a way of setting myself free.


Word Count = 1190 words.
Written for Deadline for Writers - June 2025 prompt: Purpose.