New York City August 15th, 2023 7:00 am Pov Arianna Rose
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I woke up to an empty apartment, having packed everything the night before. I grabbed the cover I slept on, folded it neatly, and set it to the side. After a quick trip to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth, I pulled on the clothes I'd left out—a pair of pajama pants and a black cropped top under my black jacket.
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Today was the big day. I was leaving New York to start a new chapter at college, moving into a one-bedroom apartment on campus. I have mixed feeling about it honestly, but I'm mostly excited.
The dorms seemed too cramped for me, so I went for the apartment option.
Before heading out, I grabbed the last few items from the apartment, double-checked my keys, and walked out. Everything I owned was packed in my truck, ready to go.
The drive to the airport was quick, with a stop at McDonald's for a sausage biscuit and a caramel frappe. It still felt surreal leaving behind everything I knew for something completely new. After passing through airport security, I dropped off my luggage and braced myself for my first flight. I'd never traveled before. Growing up, money was tight, and even if we had it, my parents wouldn't have been the type to take a trip.
9:15 am
The intercom announced, "Flight 190 is now boarding," and with that, I made my way to the gate, heart racing.
I found my seat next to the window—thank God for that. I hated being stuck in the aisle or middle seat. As the plane prepared for takeoff, I put on my Beats headphones, started up my favorite playlist, and leaned back, hoping the music would ease my nerves.
A fresh start. That thought kept playing in my mind as I drifted off to sleep.
...
few hours later..
10:41 am
A few hours later, we began descending, and I woke up in a bit of a panic. The flight attendant's voice reassured everyone, "We're about to land in Tennessee. Please remain seated." I grumbled to myself, wishing the plane would just hurry up and get me on solid ground.
