I withhold the urge to wince. I’ve made my decision, and there’s nothing they can do to convince me otherwise. I’m going to do this with or without their permission, but I’d rather avoid the infighting that comes without their permission. I have countless pamphlets ready, a PowerPoint on deck, and cousins that attend NYU on hand to plead my case if necessary. But I’m already preemptively tired and want to avoid it if I can.

I’m going to stay in New York City. I’m going to live thirty minutes away, and I’m going to come back here on occasion, for Anam and Anam only, but still—I’ll be around. They’ll see me more than they ever would if I were attending USC.

But they can no longer define my world. They can no longer keep me caged.

“I’ll still be in New York,” I say, my voice quiet. “I’ll be nearby, and I’ll be attending one of the best schools in the country. They gave me a full scholarship, so you won’t even have to pay for it. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“You know that isn’t what we wanted. How can you be so selfish, Poppy? All you ever do is think about yourself!”

I press my lips together. “Is that so wrong?” I ask, and the words come out stronger than I thought they would. “Is it so awful of me to want something? To build a life for myself?”

“Don’t turn this around like we’re trying to sabotage your future,” Ma says, shaking her head. “There is no reason for you to live in a dorm. What will people think? You’re going to make the whole family look bad—”

“Who cares?” I ask, throwing my hands up. “Why do you care so much what other people think? Why can’t you care about me instead?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Ma says. “You know we care about you. We’ve raised you your entire life, how can you say we don’t care? We put this roof over your head—”

“And now I owe you my life in repayment?” I ask quietly. “I’m your child, Ma. Not one of your belongings. Why am I not enough as I am?”

“Fahim, do you hear this? Poppy has lost her mind,” Ma says, sneering at me. “Tell your daughter—”

Baba holds out a hand, silencing her.

My eyes widen of their own accord, not expecting him to interrupt her mid tirade. She looks as surprised as I do, her mouth hanging open in dismay.

“Fine,” he says, and the whole world seems to stop.

“Fine?” I repeat in disbelief. “Fine what?”

“Fine, you can stay in a dorm,” Baba says, and the words are frigid. “You can do whatever you want. Clearly, we have no say in what you do. You have already made your decision.”