The Runaway -Kylie Donovan ‘23 I guess it all started when I
over, and my dad held out his hand
was in high school and my life
so I could hold it while I threw the
finally caught up to me. I grew up
rest of my body over the bike. I felt
in
all-American
a wobbly unfamiliar sensation tingle
family. My father was a successful
throughout my whole body, and my
the
perfect
self-made CEO of one of the
From a young age, I
feet against the pedals felt slippery
largest financial firms in the
always idolized my father.
and strange. I gave my dad a look of
whole city of Seattle. Needless to
Maybe it started the day he
readiness, even though that was not
say, growing up, I had everything
taught me to ride a bike. It was
how I felt on the inside. He smiled
pretty much handed to me on a
a crisp early April day and the
back and gave a slight push to send
silver platter. My family hosted
buds on all of the bushes
me on my way. I panicked at first; it
huge dinner parties weekly, we
around my house were just
felt like I was being thrown into a
vacationed
practically
every
weekend, and my three siblings and I attended some of the most
starting to bloom. “I am heading outside to the driveway,'' I yelled back as I
prestigious private schools in the state. I cannot even recall a single time I did a homework assignment
tank of hungry sharks, but then I relaxed after I heard my dad's voice. Unlike the harsh criticism my father would usually give me for any sort
dashed out the enormous double glass doors with my dad
of imperfection, he looked at me and said, “Chris, I’m proud of you.”
by myself growing up. My father
running behind me, still dressed
Those four words were the best gift
hired the best tutors in my area to
in his work clothes. I pulled out
my dad ever gave me. My biggest
come and work with me, but they
my brand-new red bike my dad
role model telling me how proud he
would get frustrated by my work
had just bought me. Every
was of me was all I ever needed.
ethic and end up sweeping the
detail was perfect. My dad
assignment from my hands and
made sure to order the bike
whose jet black hair was just starting
doing all the work for me. Unlike
with the latest features,
the early stages of graying. I knew
the other kids, I never had to experience the discomfort of not
whistles, and the best training tires. I threw one leg
My father was a tall man,
this because one day when I went to grab a towel from his bathroom, I
knowing how to do a task but still
saw a hair dye box laying out on the
having to work through it. I
sink counter. I knew it was for my
always had nannies and people to
dad right away because my mom
help me. I think that was part of
had platinum blonde hair that she
the problem…
got done every other day and would
