Love Letters

Chapter 1

Moving across the country has simultaneously been the easiest and hardest thing I have ever done. Reasons why it's easy, well, I'm leaving behind a toxic environment, I get to explore a new environment, and most importantly I finally get to grow into myself as an individual. Reasons why it's hard, well, I'm leaving the only environment I've ever known, I'm going into this new world alone, and I have no clue how to find out who I am. But one thing I'm certain of, I won't let anything strip me of this opportunity I've been given to start over. The world is my oyster as they say, or maybe apple in this case?
    When I first got to campus things were confusing beyond any level of preparation I could have done, which I guarantee to you I did. After what felt like an eternity I finally found my dorm, and a very hefty taxi bill. I lugged my stuff up the flights of stairs, the tan bricks stacked for floors, and the gray flights of stairs were so ordinary. Funny how when you spend so much time picturing something, and building it up in your imagination, and then it's only a fraction of everything you'd thought of.
I pushed the door open when I finally reached my floor, turning the corner, coming around the long hall and finally found my room, the door was cracked. I gently kicked the door open to find the bed to the right messily made, and books spread across the desk, which was pushed against the bed's footboard. The room wasn't much different than the staircase in all actuality, the bricks were the same bland tan, and there was about 6 feet of space between the beds. Which was the same tan as every other standard twin-XL bed and desk issued to every college everywhere. I dropped my things to the floor and plopped on my bed letting out a sigh of relief. I flung forward and looked under the bed, I guess I could use it for storage. I make a note in my head; mini fridge, a plastic dresser, and a shoe rack. A couple minutes passed and I laid back, legs dangling off the bed, pulling out my phone to find the nearest Target. It was only half a mile off campus, and was open 24 hours.
With that I began to play music from my phone, getting off the bed I sat it down on the corner of my desk and began to unpack. After hours of putting things in on my bed and desk, folded and in an organized fashion, hanging things in the world's smallest closet, and ever so precisely moving my desk so that it was pushed against the wall so that the right side of it was on my footboard, I was finally ready to head to Target to get my necessities.
    As I turned to the door, I was greeted by a jiggle of the doorknob, I stepped back to finally meet my roommate. They entered the room and jumped when they saw me waiting a couple feet away. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," I half smiled as an apology.
    They were a little taller than me, maybe 5'10, dressed in black legging, and an oversized graphic hoodie, and light blue converse that matched the black splash on her hoodie. Their skin was fairly tan, deep brown eyes, and dark brown hair. Their face was perfectly symmetrical and, eyebrows bushy, yet perfectly arched, and brushed.
    "Um, it's okay..." their voice trailed off, as they shut the door. "What's your name?" they finished.
    "Oh right, I'm Ryan. I'm your roommate... well duh, you probably gathered that, sorry." I stared at a hardwood in between us.
"No need to apologize Ryan. It's nice to meet you, I'm Delilah, but most people call me DJ." They let out a small smile, relieving a smile with no imperfections, and the whitest of teeth.
"Which would you prefer?" I asked, rubbing the back of my neck.
    "Um, can you give me some time to think on that? No one has ever asked, they usually just choose which one they prefer."
"Of course, and um what are your pronouns?" I took a few steps back and settled in my desk chair, as Delilah crossed the space to lean on their desk.
"Wow, never really been asked that question either, she/her I guess. What about you?" She said as she sat a tote bag on the ground.
"I'm actually they/them," I exhaled a breath I hadn't noticed I had been holding in. It was such a relief to have this conversation with Delilah this early on and to finally say 'they' referring to myself in a setting that wasn't me practicing in the comfort of my solitude.
"Oh, okay. This is new to me, so if I ever say or do anything that is offensive or inconsiderate please let me know."
"Just you saying that gives me a peace of mind. If only the rest of the world could be as open as you are I'd be set." I chuckled and Delilah joined in. "I was about to go to the Target, just off campus. Do you want to come or need anything?"
"Actually if you could get me some things that would be great, I would go but I'm otherworldly tired." She exhaled.
"Of course," I pulled my phone out of my pocket and handed it to her. She typed in her number, as she handed it back, I texted her a quick message. We said our byes, and I headed on another adventure to conquer the Target.
Once I got to the Target I pulled out the wrinkled list I made earlier before leaving the dorm and read it under my breath while strolling down a random aisle, "Sheets, comfortorter, mini fridge, snacks, waters, a calculator for Algebra, binders for my classes, a fluffy blanket..." I trailed off realizing I was now in the novel section. I put the list in my back pocket and gazed in awe because of the large size of this book section. It was at least twice the size of any novel section in any given Target in Wisconsin. I caressed a shelf of books until a spine caught my attention. It read " The Symptoms of Being Human," I read the synopsis and instantaneously fell in love. I sat it ever so gently in my cart, visually excited. I picked a few more books until I realized that I still had to get necessities. I forced myself out of the section, and began looking for the aisle where I could get bed sheets, a comforter, and a very fluffy blanket.
By the time I left, and got back to the dorms, Delilah was asleep sprawled out on her bed with indie pop playing gently in the background. I put my bags on the floor, and set Delilah's on her desk. I set my alarm for tomorrow, checked to make sure the door was locked and then crawled into bed. I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.