Electric Appeal

Welcome to Washington, DC

Chapter 1

Like the rush of a tsunami, the nerves kicked in. The fear of leaving all I'd ever known had finally caught up with me. I hadn't thought about it properly until that very moment. I didn't have time to think about it. My last few weeks were entirely taken up with packing my life into boxes, painful goodbyes and trying to sort my accommodation out for when I would arrive. Alongside this, there was the worry of University and all it would entail. Do they even call it University here or is it college? I'll have to Google that before starting. My flight was slow, prolonging my swirling thoughts. What if I didn't like it there? What if I made no friends? What if I would be eternally unhappy there?

I hoped to god that I wouldn't regret it. Everyone warned me that I would. My family thought I was crazy for moving across the world to study. I couldn't explain it though. I felt a pull. An undeniable, irrefutable pull. The kind of pull that you up and leave your entire life for. The kind of pull that makes you leave your beautiful English home, your job, and boyfriend for.

As we slowed down, I looked out of the taxi window - cab-not taxi. I'm going to have to get used to the American terms. A giant green sign stood tall; it read 'WELCOME TO WASHINGTON, DC.' The writing was large, bold, and white.

It felt suddenly real. I was entirely alone; I didn't know one soul in the entire country. The weather was certainly different here to England. There was a different air here. More relaxed; happier almost. I watched the elegant trees rush past my window as if they were dancing. At first, one by one, then, all in a colourful blur. After a short while, we slowed again.

"We're here, Miss." The driver said, with his hand still on the steering wheel. He waited for me to pay him; he was watching me through his front mirror.

After paying and getting out whilst clutching my tightly packed suitcases, I turned and faced my new life. The large, grey stone walls of Georgetown University faced me. The building was breath-taking. It looked hundreds of years old, certainly grander than I had imagined. It was captivating, like an ancient gothic castle. Eventually, I found a kind looking lady to direct me to the reception. I collected my keys to my dorm and spent the rest of that day; and several hours of the evening, unpacking my new life, and making my dorm feel like home. The clock struck midnight when I was happy with how everything looked. Whilst sat on the cream cushions in my window seat, overlooking the beautifully lit city, I watched all the different people, listened to snippets of conversations, and watched a constant flash of car lights. Uncontrollable loneliness loomed over me like poison entering the bloodstream.

The following day began positively. The sun shone through the small gap in my cream curtain as a knock on my door woke me. I checked through the glass hole in my door before opening it. I saw a girl, around my age, with a vibrant smile. Bleach blond hair touched the top of her shoulders; she looked like a student. Slowly, I opened the door.

Her smile was a beam of light. If sunshine were a person, it would be her.

"Hi, I'm Ashley." Her smile was contagious, I instantly warmed to her. She briefly looked at my attire. "I'm so sorry- I shouldn't have come so early. It's just- I live in the dorm next to you. I thought I heard shuffling about in here last night and I was right!" Her American accent was strong and clear.

I smiled back. "You certainly were right. It's fine though. I'm Elizabeth. I moved in yesterday. You're the first person I've met here so I am actually very happy to meet you. Come in. If you want." I gestured with my hand. She accepted my offer.

"Well you definitely don't sound American so I'm guessing you moved from England? You will also be needing a tour guide that means." Suddenly, I didn't feel quite so lonely anymore. We chatted and hung out all day. She took me out to show me the best café's, restaurants, and bars that she knew. She grew up here and began University several months ago, at the beginning of the year. She was studying the same major as me and could therefore, answer all of my questions, reducing my nerves about starting on Monday. I felt elated to have met someone, not just anyone, a friend that I felt at ease with. We got to know each other well that weekend and I ended up feeling incredibly lucky to have her living just next door.