I'll Give You What You Want

Pinch Me

I've been in my new place for about a week now. All of my things arrived three days ago, so I've been trying to get everything organized. My new home is a loft style apartment in a back street of Rome. Close enough for the action of the city but still far enough away from the sounds.

Today I was off to explore and get familiar with my new surroundings. I had already found a great coffee place just a few streets down. Very quiet and small. I'm just happy they don't judge me for my horrible Italian. Teaching myself might now have been the best option, but it was definitely the cheapest.

I glance in my mirror before I leave just to make sure I don't look as tired as I feel. Jet lag really hit me and I'm still recovering. I brushed my long dark hair into a ponytail, trying to hide how dirty it's gotten. My hair is very thick and my travel sized shampoo and conditioner didn't last as long as I hoped for. I adjusted my top, a simple black tank that I cropped a few weeks ago. I made sure my jeans were zippered. I hurriedly added mascara to my lashes just to open my eyes a bit.

"This is as good as it gets for now." I say to myself and I slide on my black platform sandals.

I check my list on my phone as I lock my door and head down the stairs, which is thankfully only one set. I go out into the small court yard that separates the house from the street, it feels like a tiny secret. My landlord really made this space feel warm and safe. She hung string lights above the pathway through the trees. At first glance you might think it's overgrown, but once you really look you can see everything is placed where it is on purpose. For privacy and decoration. I walked through the yard to the vine covered gate and stepped onto a cobblestone street. It wasn't super busy, a few drivers here and there, some people out for walks.

As I walk to the coffee shop as my first stop I take everything in. The old buildings, the kids playing in the streets, the old men smoking and playing chess in front of the local grocer. The sights and sounds were pleasant at first, then I started to hear everything even more and started to feel myself get overstimulated.

"Please not now." I whisper to myself as I take my headphones out of my bag and plug them in my phone.

I become overstimulated once in awhile, sometimes it makes me bitchy and other times I can feel it make me start to panic. I've learned to deal with it, one of the perks of adult adhd.

I go into my music library and put on my most recently listened to, which happened to be Måneskin. I chuckled to myself, how fitting to listen to my favorite Italian band while strolling the streets of Italy.

After a couple of songs I feel at ease, just in time to go in the coffee shop. I order and pay and go wait at a table by the window. I mindlessly go through different Instagram stories, some celebrities and some of my friends back home. I watch Victoria's story, the bassist and leader of Måneskin. Looks like she's hanging out with Thomas, the guitarist, today. I pause her story and they pass by a building. I look closer and realize that's my building. They walked by my building not even 11 minutes ago. I internally start to freak out. That must mean they're staying somewhere close by while they record their new songs.

"One americano for the Americano." The waitress winks and smiles at me as she places my iced coffee in front of me.
"Grazie!" I smile back and take a sip.

I open up google maps and start looking up different stores that are walking distance. I lived in the city before I came here so I'm no stranger to walking around to get where I need to. I notice the shop is filling up, which isn't hard to do since this place is small. I drink more of my coffee, trying to finish before I leave. I noticed people here don't tend to walk and drink, I really liked that mindset so I'm trying to change my habit of doing that.