ELIZA

4

Head pounding from the night before, Alina woke up to a text:

Had a great time last night. Would love to get a coffee.

It was from Eliza. She had forgotten that they had exchanged numbers. Alina got a bunch of numbers that night, prior to meeting Eliza. She felt a slight pang of shame.

Justine had really broken Alina's heart, and here she was. Thinking of a new girl. It was exciting to her, but she still wondered if Justine was happy. Justine had not reached out since their breakup, so Alina figured it was time to move on.

Alina responded:

I'd love to get a coffee. I'm free 2-3 on Wednesday. After 1 on Thursday, and all day on Friday. Let me know.

They decided to meet at 2pm on Friday. It was the week before finals, and the air of stress began to loom. This will probably be the last time we see each other until next semester, Alina thought.

When Friday came, they went to Woodstar Cafe. They both bonded over being from a city. Eliza had worked in an emergency room in Harlem, where she witnessed the horrors of the health care system. She questioned why the emergency room was the first resort for most people, when indeed it should be the last. The overcrowding. The pain. She shared her stories of how, as an intern, she soothed families who were worried and helped around the waiting room. That was Eliza, Alina learned - the type of person who makes the most of what they can do.

Justine could never, Alina thought. Justine grew up in Connecticut, shielded away from the hardship of life, and she was not the type of person who was drawn into it. A Libra, Justine was always in her head, dreaming about the next song to sing or the next book to write. Alina was a Capricorn, molded by New York City. The struggle and commotion of city life made Alina real, almost abrasive, but Eliza did not seem to mind. Alina was ambitious, wanting a better life for her family and herself.

The hours went by so quickly, that it was dark when they noticed how much time had gone. Alina was so interested in Eliza and wanted to ask her out on a second date if there was still time in the semester. As Alina was about to ask, Eliza said, "There's something I should have said earlier. I'm studying abroad in Argentina next semester." Her eyes knew what her words meant.

Alina felt her heart drop. Eliza was so promising, but it would be naive to think that they could make it work. It wouldn't work, Alina thought. Alina stayed silent for a while.

But we could try, she finally resolved.

"Can I see you tomorrow?" Alina asked after she learned that Eliza chose Argentina because a lot of people who have not traveled a lot tend to go to Europe first. Eliza was half-French, Alina learned, and Argentina would be an adventure for her.