ambushed but free!

4:30 PM: Welp, safe to say that in all the conversations I envisioned with my parents none included me sitting waiting here for their arrival after being ambushed already yesterday and awkwardly dodging questions from my mom that my dad knew the answer to... pretty sure they're here, and I've never wanted to have any conversation less.

6:17: Survived. At least it's over with - that's about all I can think to say on the topic. Maybe I do need to ask for help more... but it certainly won't be happening anytime soon. I've made it this far and things have been working out, might as well keep going.

the next day

win! that got cleared up quickly (for me) ... went from the level of panic that only sleep allows escape from all the way to casually being proud of my ability to afford pills instead of heroin for the entire decade. classic, I know there's easily a million cliches to update with, but it's STO season - aka I have a paying job to do.

...instead of jinxing this, I am NOT hitting publish until they leave. pretty sure they seem to think I'm moving in with them... as if I am now poor? unclear.

a few hours later...

FREEDOM! Never take it for granted again future-self, you do not like being bothered or smothered (or loved apparently, but that's a later problem) in any way shape or form. Takeaway: stay in the land of the free and home of the brave if you don't want to revert to the days of being a teenager. AND never go to jail (I'd imagine that's worse than being parented).