Fine Time

Chapter 1: Olive

I left The Netherlands.

It is my first day in Italy.

Oh my god.

My first day in Italy.

I, Olive Miller. I can do it. I spent my whole life speaking 2 languages. Seeing as I grew up with 2 American parents who immigrated to the Netherlands. I will learn a third language now. And that is Italian. Seeing as I'll be living in Italy for god knows how long now. This is exciting, new, frightening.

I have constantly done frightening things. I have constantly talked to people, met new people, made new friends. Lost those friends. I have done lots of new things, embarrassing, scary, small, big things. This is just frightening... And big. But, I can do it.

I take a deep breath standing outside of the apartment building, looking up. I am ready to start a new chapter in my life.

I am scared, but I have overcome a lot, so I know I can do this. Right? Right.

I started taking my pills again. I will be having weekly online therapy sessions with my therapist... (Mrs van der Wijn, married to a sweet woman I was lucky to meet before my leave. She has 2 kids her wife carried with their best friend's sperm. My therapist shared her life story a bit so I could open up more and feel comfortable enough to even sit there with her in the room. Her wife popped up for a visit once, because my therapist forgot her lunch one time, so her wife brought it for her.) ..from back home.

Home.

I moved. Therefore my home is actually here now.

Lana and I will still keep in contact, on the phone. Everyday if possible.

I am starting my new job next week at a restaurant not so far from here. I will be working as a server and already started last week with learning the menu that I need to know completely, from the top of my head. Luckily it is not a big menu. It is pretty simple.

I just have to breathe in and breathe out, try to control my breath and move on.

Let's see. Her last name is Moretti. I hope it's a 'she' at least.

We contacted each other through email. It was a risky thing to do, if I'm being honest here. We exchanged numbers and all, but I am, once I see the place and move in. That is when I am going to exchange contact information and bank credits and all with the landlord. I can't afford to get scammed. The building looks exactly the same as in the photos, so does the area. So that's a good sign. That is good.

I sigh and take just another big, long breath, I let it out and look for the name card that says Moretti on the building and click the buzzer. "Hello?" I hear a woman's voice through the speaker. "Hi, It's me, Olive Miller? We spoke through email. I'm supposed to move in today. I have the deposit and everything with me."

"Oh! Hi! Come on in." I hear a buzz and I push the door open. I'm a bit relieved. I could hear from the sound of her voice that she is indeed a 'she' and she sounds nice. I hope she isn't too talkative or preppy though. I am not talkative or preppy. Oh my god, and she better be a good roommate, or else I'm stuck living here for a year, with an annoying, horrible, or just sucky roommate. I like thinking, getting lost in my thoughts, and I like observing.

Here we go.

Here I go.

I walk and carry my suitcases and bags with me to the elevator and I feel my heart drop to the floor, along with my jaw.

What the fuck.

There's an 'out of order' sign on the elevator door.

I'm exhausted. My flight was delayed, I had to wait forever for a taxi to bring me here and the airport lost one of my bags for a while. They quickly found it, luckily.