What I Believe In

Chapter 1 ♔

For the last month, I hoped for an exciting new phase of my life. Scholarship at NYU. I’m going to college in less than 3 months. After I finish my creative writing degree, I hope to publish a  book and inspire the world. But you know how every moment worth capturing is suddenly ruined? Yep. This definitely was the day that would start the change in what I had believed in for the past years.

 I was packing my clothes for the trip. I’d figured that it won’t be so bad. I guess I could finally leave our small town in Maine where I have been confined in for the rest of my life. I mean, I have nothing against  Maine. It’s so beautiful and picturesque. And I’d choose a small town over a bustling city anytime. But sometimes, I just want to see the world. Break out my shell and be in someplace where I don’t  belong.

“Hey. Hey.Oh, darling, you don’t need any of those.” She throws away my pink polka dotted panty, which was my favourite if I must say.

“Hey. I need those.” I eyed her curiously.

“Just pack some few clothes. You’d be okay.” Truthfully, I wanted to pack more so that I could have an “extra” something. In case of an emergency. What if a pigeon would poop on me? What if a coffee was spilled all over me? What if some incredulously hot guy asked for an extra handkerchief and I didn’t have one? I wouldn’t want that.

Then breaking me away from my usual brooding happy moments, my mom suddenly became all dramatic. “Come here.” She gestured that I give her a hug. I awkwardly did. I mean, well, I always hugged my parents but why was she being so dramatic, it’s not as if I’d-

“Mom? Why are you crying?” Then my dad entered my room and hugged me too.

“Oh, Maegan. I’m not crying.” But there were real tears in her eyes. “Don’t worry about me. I love you, okay? Remember that. And...well, just have fun and live life.” She smiled that smile that would’ve made so many men line up for her hand like they did when maybe she was my age. I haven’t gotten much from my parents. I don’t have their light hair nor do I have either brown or grey eyes. It always boil down to just how my eyes twinkle. But then again, I was adopted. “Make your life as book-like as you have wanted all your life.”

“And don’t forget what we always say, “ he said in his  cloudy eyes. He too? Being all this dramatic.

“Yes I know,” I smiled. It was our family motto.

We all chanted, “ The wind may blow and the storm might pass but the lighthouse stands firm.”

“I love you too mom, dad. I’ll try to make my life one hell of a book.”

 ~+~+~+~+~+

After calling my friends and listening to a very heartfelt long speech my mom gave, I finally hailed a cab and went to the airport. The trip was surprisingly fast. Before I knew it, I was in Caelum’s national airport.

 An hour passed and I still haven’t seen my luggage. The baggage carousel now only has a duffel bag that I’m so determined was not mine...unless of course, a unicorn changed my pink luggage into that. I’m not sure if they could do that.

Finally, after debating whether or not I should wait just in case my bag was just fashionably late, I went to the information counter and asked the man standing beside him.

“Umm...hi,” I said so quietly. I wondered if he had heard me.

“Yes? What can I do for you?” the info man said with a twinge of French accent.

“Umm...yes. Uh, I was wondering if by any chance you’d seen a pink luggage. It’s actually quite cute. It has a ribbon designs on it. You may see it think that it is very girly. It is. But, I don’t-“