Eighteen

I never thought I would leave Rosadle or Boltimlore for anything, I always imagined my business here, where I had grown up, where I was comfortable. it was home, I knew almost everyone here. My parents had been born and raised here and died here. I made my first friends, memories of all sorts right in this town, and now, I was moving across the country to pursue the dream I had always wanted, far off. I wasn't complaining, just looking back at the place I knew, the place where people knew me.

Once the clock hit 4 o'clock in the morning, I left MY house and was on our way to the airport. I did fight back tears, not that I didn't think I would cease being the town gossip, well after some time maybe people would forget and stop. It's just time they definitely will stop.

I checked in, feeling myself saying goodbye to my hometown, then waited patiently for our flight to board. Suddenly I heard on the overhead speaker, “Flight to New York, New York is now boarding, Flight to New York, New York now boarding.” Once I boarded the plane, I settled in and got comfortable, I needed to be, to hope my excitement, nerves, anxiety were all well. The flight was fairly smooth with little turbulence and the sweet sound of babies crying filled my ears. Once we heard the pilot's voice telling the crew to prepare for landing, my excitement grew big

When I arrived in New York, I wasn't sure I even was. It felt new, the air, the skyscrapers, the way everything felt. The airport was quiet and peaceful. I could smell the freshly brewed coffee once I set foot in the airport. It had been 3 hours, 5 minutes or so, I had been sitting on the plane and was finally here

Finally here, to a new start and to chase my dreams. This is the land where dreams are made off, let us see what it had in store for me.

I checked in and admired the beauty. It was hot and I could feel the heat. I felt of bit of sweat drain down my shirt and all I could think of was a cold bath.

This was my first time meeting Heather in person, I knew she had black hair, but I didn't really expect she would be older in person than she did on-screen during our zoom calls, but regards, she was still a beautiful woman in her early forties. She wore a black slack with a blue long-sleeved top and a necklace with a heart on it. Her green eyes lit up with joy as she recognized me from the crowd. She quickly walked to me with open arms and engulfs me. She smells of strawberries and has an aura of freshness with her. So relaxing!

“You must be Neese!” A female voice spoke. I broke off from Heather's hug and turned to see who it was.

I saw a brunette with long hair almost reaching her waist, she wore a big jacket over what looked to be an animal print polo neck. She had black jeans on with a bit of rip on the heels with pink wages and She had brown sunglasses on too.

But, I could tell she was good-looking despite the mix of colors.

“I am Jessica!” She giggled running to me. She hugged me tightly.

“Uh, Neese, meet Jessica,” Heather said as Jessica now shook hands with me.

“Too slow Heath, already made intros.” She giggled.

Okay!

I forced a smile and did my best to not ask too many questions at once like “Why are you so jolly, you don't even know me.”

“So glad you made it safely here,” Heather said help me with my language and we start to walk out of the airport.

“So glad I'm here,” I replied

“First impressions matter.” Jessica Spoke, a little louder than necessary.

My eyes met Heathers and we both just looked at Jessica

“What?” She has no idea what's going on. Of course, she was kind of an odd young adult, not that I have anything against that people are different and are allowed to carry themselves whichever way they want. And from what I could tell from the few minutes we had spent, she seemed to be like that friend you just don't want to be around or carry them anywhere with you. But we are to work together might as well as like her. I take a good glance at the buildings as we finally step outside. The buildings are so astonishingly tall and eye-catching. These buildings encompass the most distinctive architecture I have ever seen in my lifetime. I think to myself, there are so many buildings here I find it hard to believe that man is capable of putting them up, but on the other hand also and knocking them down. The buildings look like they had plunged from God's hands and landed in one spot, where else but in New York City.

As I make my way down the city street, I feel overwhelmed by people walking and talking in scores of different languages. People with looks that I have never seen before. People that look somewhat bizarre to me. Everyone is different in their owner's way of style. Let me tell you something, this big place called "New York" is the capital of all the new fashions and old fads. What styles I might find either peculiar or eccentric usually becomes what I start to copy in later years when it becomes starts being the local fashion of my town. What I am trying to say is that New York is the inventor of all inventors. I perceive New York City as a carefree expression of freedom. Not that I didn't really have any, I mean I was pretty much raised by my cousin and was allowed to literally do what I wanted, but New York presented a new kind of freedom, like a newness of a phase or a chapter. I hope it will be so for me here.

We got into a cub and we went on to Heather's house. She was divorced with two children living with their grandmother. A young man and woman in their teens who visited her once in a while. Heather wasn't a sad divorced woman in her early 40s, she was free from an abusive ex-husband, had a great career she loved, and had a big house and money to just live her best life. But I guess it can get lonely.

“My room is the one on the left, you can pick the other one or the ones upstairs,” Jessica says

“Yeah feel free, it is a big house,” Heather replied

At this moment I was stunned.

“This house is beautiful.”

The building features a driveway and a small, neat plaza. The house has a fitness room with gym equipment, a swimming pool outside. I walked to the kitchen and yes it was magnificent, the kitchen in the house has blue cabinets. I knew Blue was Heather's favorite color. I stare at them, and at the rest of the kitchen, coming to terms with my new reality, I am in New York City, about to start up something for myself- I had come this far, heartbroken but still striving.

So back to the kitchen, it is small, with an island at the center. There is a medium-sized plastic bowl of apples and one orange sitting there, next to a stack of magazines. Behind the island is the stove, with four burners. Above them hang an array of shiny silver spatulas. The oven is to the left of the island, about four feet away. Two potholders, one round, one square, hang from little silver hooks beside it. One is a little sign at the corner. They are brightly colored, orange and red, with fancy embroidering. The round one has a cow stitched on it. The square one has a rooster. There’s a length of counter that separates the kitchen from the breakfast table. Am sure where the children used to spend hours reading after school, drunk in afternoon sunshine while their mother prepped for dinner.

I walked to my now new room. The room was simple, a small wooden bookshelf filled to the brim was near the door, the walls were a navy color while the door was pitch black. In the corner of the room was a red and black bed that held a mound of covers. Will have to clean that up.

The white sheets on the bed. (Light poured in through the window, The curtains were drawn, blocking any sunlight from reaching the room). The walls were decorated in girly posters of Rihanna and some were those of Harry styles; there was also an unorganized computer desk in the corner.

“This used to be Mia's room.” I hear Heather say. I turn to look at her and I can see the sadness on her face. I really didn't understand why her children chose to live with their grandparents and not their mum or dad, like one of the two parents. That was a topic she was not ready to talk about.

“We have some spare rooms upstairs, this one needs to be cleaned, come on,” Heather says

“This one is fine.”

“You're sure?”

“Do they still visit?” I ignore her inquiring. Heather almost tears up, she fights back tears but one makes its way down her left cheek

“Been almost two years now, they hate me.” She managed to say and turned to leave the room.

My goodness.

“Those kids are just annoying brats.” Heather walks in

Just what I needed

“How would you know that?” I asked picking up the piles of clothes that were at the corner.

“Because, they just sound not nice, how do they leave their mama all alone, who does that.”

“I am sure someone must have happened.”

“Like Neese, whatever your last name is again.”

“Anderson.”

“Yeah, what wrong can Heather do to scare her kids off.”

“That's none of your business you two now come on, let's help her clean up,” Heather says as she walks back in. She bends to where I am and begins to pick up the clothes as well when I notice a bottle of whiskey wrapped around a grey t-shirt.

“Let me handle this, you can go down and tell Sophia what you want to have for lunch so she starts to cook,” Heather said, a little agitated

“Come on Neese, you heard the lady.” Jessica wraps around my arms and pulls me out.

I know this is none of my business, but Heather was my friend and something was not right about the whole situation.