Lost & Found

3

July [2019]
New York City
Population: 8.3 million

*Peep the date* 

Fatima Wilson stood at the edge of the sidewalk, taking a deep breath as the summer sun of New York City radiated against her skin. It was 2019, and at 23 years old, she had just graduated from college a few weeks ago. Life was moving fast—faster than she could have anticipated, but she luckily landed a paid internship gig almost immediately after graduation. 

She and her sorority sister, Danni, had decided to move in together to save money and stay close. They found a small apartment in the heart of the city, nothing fancy, but it was perfect for two young women chasing their dreams on a very small budget. Neither realized how hectic and tiresome moving would be on them, especially in the middle of the summer. Between buying furniture, putting the furniture together, unpacking everything, and reality of adulthood hitting them all at once. They were ready to climb the Statue of Liberty and see where the wind take them when they landed. 

To help with the stress and excitement of it all, she started a new routine. Every morning or whenever she had the free time, she would walk around the city, taking in the new city. The sounds of honking cars, loud NY people with accents, and the distant echoes of the subway became background noise as she found herself captivated by the city's views. She'd often stroll to the waterfront to watch the sun dip below the horizon, the oranges, pinks, and purples reflecting off the water. 

The city was nothing like the small town of Sleepy Hollow she grew up in. The streets were always filled with trash, a million people with no social cues to move out of the way, and the constant construction never seemed to end—but for some reason, the city made her feel something her small town couldn't even imagine. The chaotic mix of beauty and imperfection mirrored how she felt inside. 

A few weeks into her walking routine, she began noticing something new every time. Her eyes shifted away from the skyline and the water, and instead, she found herself taking interests in the buildings that lined her walking path. One particular shop caught her attention the most though; an old-school music store tucked between a deli and a laundromat. 

It wasn't flashy like some of the other stores on the block; in fact, it looked almost forgotten, a relic from another time. The dusty window displayed faded posters of musicians from the '80s and '90s, and inside, she could see rows of vinyl records, CDs, and music memorabilia. It had a nostalgic charm that pulled her in, and after her first visit, she found herself returning again and again.

There was one record in particular that she kept coming back to—Kanye West's The College Dropout. It sat behind the glass counter, pristine and perfectly displayed. Every time she visited, she would stop by, admiring it but never buying it. Between moving expenses, rent, and groceries, she couldn't afford to splurge just yet. But she told herself that one day soon, she'd own it.

After a month of her working there, she finally secured her sign on bonus. It wasn't much, but it was enough to pay her bills, put some away in savings, and treat herself to the Kanye vinyl she'd been eyeing. Soon as she got off of work, she she headed straight to the music store that Friday afternoon.

The familiar scent of old vinyl and polished wood filled her nose as she stepped inside the store.  The store was quiet, saved for the soft music playing overhead. She made her way to the glass counter where the record sat, untouched since the last time she'd seen it. 

Behind the counter stood a store employee, the guy she had noticed the past few times she'd visited. Tall, with deep brown eyes and an easy smile. She had never spoken to him directly, but there was something about him that caught her attention every time she walked in. He always seemed at ease, casually handling work around the place or talking with customers. She admired him from afar, too shy to strike up a conversation but damn did she want too.