When Worlds Collide

O N E

Emmalynn

I push down hard and zip my third and final suitcase, setting it beside the other two by the door. I flop on the bed of my one-bedroom apartment overlooking Central Park and sigh.

Three weeks off of work, that's all.

All of my saved vacation time, that is.

I am constantly reminding myself that this is my break. This is my downtime. I need to enjoy it. So I vow to myself to not even think about work during this break, unless someone needs me, of course. I finished all of my project work ahead of time and pushed my work calls to a later date after my return.

I glance at my watch and realize my flight leaves in two hours.

I quickly bounce out of bed and grab my luggage. I scan my apartment one more time, trying to force my brain to remember if I forgot anything. When nothing comes to mind, I grab my suitcases and roll them behind me towards the elevator.

"Three weeks," Ralph starts as I get off the elevator in the lobby. "If I hadn't known better, I'd think you'd be gone for three months!"

Ralph, a man in his late seventies, has two jobs in my apartment building- security guard and lift operator. His gray hair and fragile figure tells me he is getting much closer to retirement than anything. The scar on his right arm hides a story few people know.

I admire Ralph. He is an open book. He will tell you about anything and will converse with anyone for hours.

"Yeah... Well when you're the maid of honor at a wedding, you have to bring a few extra things for the occasion," I explain.

Ralph chuckles. "You see here, lassie," he southern roots shine through his dialect. "Back when my wife, Linda, was still around she'd pack a pair of shoes for every day we were gone, not to mention at least four outfits for that pair of shoes."

Ralph looks up at the ceiling and smiles, remembering the memories of him and his wife.

"Me on the other hand," he chuckled. "I would pack one outfit for every two days and travel solely with the pair of shoes on my feet."

"Is that so!" I chuckle and we share a small laugh.

We smile and look at each other. "God, do I miss her," Ralph says after a few seconds of silence. I give him a sad smile.

"It's your memory that keeps her alive, Ralph."

This time, he flashes me the sad smile.

Ralph decides to change the subject. "So, lassie, when are you going to be settling down? You're about that age now!"

I chuckle. "Ralph, I don't have guys swooning over me. I haven't even been on a date in over a year! I have other things to focus on at the moment. I have a career and I can provide for myself. I love my lifestyle right now and would not want to change that over a romance that may not work."

"Ah, a self-made woman... I see," Ralph says.

"If you want to call it that, sure," I respond. I look down at my watch. 9:15am. "Hey Ralph, as much as I'd love to stay and chat, my flight leaves in an hour and fourty-five minutes and I don't want to miss it!"

"Sure thing, lassie," Ralph responds. "See you in three weeks! I can't wait to hear all about your wedding festivities!"

"Take care, Ralph," I say as I drag my suitcases out of the apartment building and onto the busy streets of New York City.

I flag down a taxi and ask the driver to take me to LaGuardia Airport. After a fifteen minute transit, I arrive at the airport. I generously tip my driver and hop out of the cab. It takes me another hour to check my bags, make it through security lines, and find my gate. Soon enough, I am boarding the plane.

I get comfortable in my window seat and the flight attendants go through some safety procedures before the plane takes off. I put in my headphones and open a romance novel I've been reading in my spare time, figuring I'll be able to finish it in the hour and a half it takes to fly to North Carolina.

We are off and landed in no time and I am back in the state I grew up in. My mother generously pick me up from the airport and we start the two hour drive east to the small coastal town in which I grew up in.

I've always loved the water, hence I picked a city close to it.

"How's everything going, Emmy?" my mother breaks the silence.

"It's going well. I've been really busy with work lately but I'm lucky to be able to have this little break from reality," I respond.

"How's your social life?" my mother quickly jumps to the point. She has always been concerned that I spend too much time to myself.

"Nothing new," I respond, already over this conversation.

"No new love interests?" she pries?

"Mom-" I warn.

"Come on, Em," she starts. "Your father and I just want to know if we will ever be expecting grandchildren at some point."

The conversation upsets me and she can tell. I'm tired of her constant pries into my personal life. She has made it very clear that she wants grandchildren before she's too old and can't spoil them anymore. I know it comes from a place of love. Nonetheless, it makes me uncomfortable.

She's quiet, not knowing if she will get a response out of me. I don't give one and we sit in silence for the remainder of the car ride.

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Short first chapter to get the feel of writing!

Thank you all for taking the time to read the first chapter of FIRST EVER BOOK!! I am so excited to share this with you all and am looking forward to what the future holds!

I love feedback and would like to hear yours! I do not have a complete plot outlined yet so I would love to see what direction you all want me to take with this!

Chapter 2 coming in a few days!!

-Kat <3