“You cannot go to college. Everyone else is going”
Elvis rubbed at his eyes to conceal the tears that threatened to overwhelm his deep blue eyes.
Source
“How Kay? I've placed all my options before you.”
Kelsey dragged her long fingers through her auburn hair.
“You could sell the farm…”
“The farm is my family legacy….”
“It is the only way!” Kelsey rose to stand in front of him “Can't you see, Elvis? This is the only way out.”
Elvis rose to take her hands. He wanted to be with her too. That was all he wanted ever since he had first seen her under the rain and had gone to give her his umbrella when he was just 12.
That was what he had in mind when he pursued her relentlessly all through their time in middle school, even when her parents had tried severally to ensure they didn't end up together.
“That Elvis guy is no good for you, he's almost a pauper” he had heard those words himself from her mother yet, he had sold his precious bicycle to get her the nicest pair of sandals he could find.
The plan was for them to attend Harvard together. Kelsey didn't have the brains but her father had spoken to a few people, Elvis on the other hand had the brains but he had no money and no one to speak to anyone for him.
“Kay,” he turned his attention back to her golden brown eyes “Even if I attend college, I'll never be good enough for you. I'll either be in debt or be left with nothing. We cannot start a life like that. Especially with the kind of family you come from.”
He could see that the gold in her eyes was beginning to glitter from moisture. He rubbed his thumb gently on her cheek.
“If I apply for a loan today, I'll be in trouble tomorrow.”
She looked up at him, “But how? People get loans all the time…”
“I'll be applying for a federal loan as that would be more flexible regarding payment options and have lower interest rates. Now, the amount I can get would be determined by factors like the cost of my tuition and my income which is currently at zero. Then, I'm going to be considered an independent student. That alone makes it difficult for me to get financial aid.”
“Independent student? What does that even mean?”
“Babe, Calm down. I could get a loan if I pursued hard for it, but how do I get to pay for it? I could go for the standard repayment plan that allows me to make fixed payments for up to 10 years, but that's 10 years of my life gone to repaying debt.”
Kelsey removed her hands from his and dragged her hands through her hair again. Elvis was afraid she would soon drag some of her hair off with the force she was dragging it with.
“Surely there must be another plan or another way”.
Elvis was tempted to chuckle.
“That's the best, trust me. There's also the graduated repayment plan, which starts with lower payments that gradually increase over time. Then there is the extended repayment plan, which would allow me to make lower monthly payments over a longer period, typically up to 25 years.”
“Elvis, my parents do not like you already. If you don't go to college, there is no way we can convince them to let us get married.”
Elvis knew, which was why he planning to end things between them.
“I plan to work on the farm, make some money, invest it right back into it, and see what I can get. That would take some time, Kelsey.”
He had never called her first name since they began seeing each other. It was either ‘Kay’ or ‘Babe’. She knew something was wrong.
“You just called me Kelsey”
Elvis brushed her curls away from her face and smiled through his tears,
“I’m afraid I may have to let you go, babe. You deserve a better life; A better man. I need you to go to Harvard and be the best you can be. I'll be here trying to work my life out. And if we ever come across each other without a ring on your finger, I'll cross seven seas to marry you”.
Kelsey was already sobbing almost uncontrollably. The separation was inevitable. Their paths were totally different now, and Elvis had to let her go so she could move on. As he pulled her into his arms, he thought about all the good times they spent and promised himself to get her back, but first he had to make money.
It would take more than not having a college certificate to stop him then.
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