Chapter One

I hugged my family goodbye and hopped on the plane. I was going to miss them but i had to do this for myself. I could not keep relying on them knowing they will never let me do anything at all. As my father would say "the whole point of having money is for my family". I was not a fan of statements like that. I love to make it on my own, that is the only way i can be satisfied with myself. The ride was blissful. I had been to New York before but never as a resident. I was so glad Iwas finally seeing the world on my own. 

Stepping into my apartment, it felt unreal. I knew i should not have let them book the place for me. I understand their concerns but they need to understand that i am grown and i would make mistakes and learn from them. I sighed and carried my luggage into the sitting room. I was met with different kinds of lights and i groaned inwardly and rolled my eyes. Of course I'm stuck with one of these social media addicts. I called my housemate on the phone for confirmation on my room, after i got that, i moved in and laid on the bed. Fixing up my stuff and unpacking is one of my many talents. It takes me little to no time at all to get it done. In about three hours i had fixed up my room to my satisfaction. Groaning, i slammed myself on my bed and dozed off. I woke up at almost 12am with a loud rumble in my stomach. I really hoped and prayed there was something i could eat before i end up dead. I picked up my phone to a dozen messages from my family. I called them to reassure them that i was fine. Stepping out of my room, i could hear the faint noise of the tv coming from the sitting room. I walked in to see Emily my housemate with her eyes glued to her phone. I walked up to her to say hello. She looked up and her face brightened up with a smile when she saw me. "you are more pretty in person". I smiled and whispered a thank you while getting comfortable. "i saved you some slices of pizza. I suspected that you might be hungry when you woke up". I loved her already. I said a thank you and devoured the food. She laughed at how my tummy rumbled in joy as soon as i began eating. "So tell me about your self" i asked Emily. 

"i am a social media influencer. I mostly influence for gadgets but I'm getting a hang of fashion as well. I get to get paid for doing what i love and people think my life is not fun? They've got it all wrong" she spoke about her business proudly and passionately. It felt like i was in her head and i understood everything she said. "i finished school about 3 months ago and i decided to leave my comfort zone and come out here to see how the world is without someone hovering around me. My siblings are quite annoying but i miss them" i began. We spoke about our families and everyother thing until it was deep into the night. We bid ourselves goodnight and went into our various rooms. As soon as i hit the bed, i felt exhausion hit me as i passed out. 

I woke up at 8am and got ready for the day. I will not say that i am a morning person but i get things done anytime i need to. I dressed up for the mall and wrote down things i needed and what was not already in the house. My bags were so heavy that i could barely lift them up. I made a mental note to get a car before the week ran out. I got home and stocked up the fridge. "it seems like you enjoy putting things in order" she sais while smiling. I laughed at her observation although she was not wrong. I went into the sitting room with Emily and we got to know each other better. She was outgoing, fun, smart and pretty. What more could one ask for? I on the other hand am still trying to figure out what kind of person i am. I was glad i met her and we could be called friends. We matched energies and got along so quickly. I told her about my plans and we started job hunting together. Sent out over 30 applications at the end of the day. "at this point, i can do anything, i hope at least one calls me back" i said while groaning. "Cassie, Can i call you Cassie?" i nodded. " this is new york. Trust me, you will find something to do." she gave me a hug and stood up to leave. "are you sure you do not want to come with me?" i shook my head, she shrugged and left me there. After Emily left, I found myself with a quiet house and an empty afternoon, so I decided to spend the rest of the day in the kitchen. It seemed like the perfect way to pass the time and keep my mind off things. I started by boiling some pasta, letting the aroma of garlic and herbs fill the room as I prepared a simple but comforting dish. The rhythmic chopping of vegetables and the sizzle of chicken on the grill felt almost therapeutic. I wanted to make something special, something that would make Emily feel cared for when she returned. I knew she had probably been surviving on quick meals and takeout, and I thought a homemade dinner might be just what she needed.

Once the meal was ready, I set the table with care, imagining the look on her face when she walked through the door and smelled the food. It was a small gesture, but it felt important. After everything was in place, I felt a wave of exhaustion wash over me, so I decided to take a nap. I lay down, hoping to drift off quickly, but my mind kept wandering back to the job applications I had sent out. 

Days went by, and the silence from the companies I had applied to grew heavier. No calls, no emails—just an empty inbox and the lingering uncertainty of what would come next. I tried to stay positive, but as the days stretched into a week, the waiting became harder to bear. Each morning, I checked my phone with a mixture of hope and dread, only to be met with the same quiet disappointment. I was on the verge of losing the last bit of hope I had left. The days of waiting in silence were wearing me down, and it was getting harder to stay optimistic. Sensing my mood, Emily's friends came over, determined to lift my spirits. They brought with them a new idea: reaching out to their fans for help. It was a long shot, but at this point, I was willing to try anything.