Exultant | Nicholas Chavez

03 ✩ New Beginnings

Raven Ryder

Moving with a quick pace like I'm on a mission, I make my way down to the parking garage to get to my car.

I unlock her and get in, throwing my purse in the passenger seat and setting my drink down.

The engine sputters and groans, the entire car shaking as I try and start it. It chokes for a few seconds, the sound of metal grinding against metal before it falls silent.

My eyes widen as I tap on the steering wheel, "C'mon, girl, today is not the day to stall out on me." I groan, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear to get it out of my face.

I try it again, coaxing it to life, but it hesitates sending me into a small panic.

"Oh, this can't be happening."

I try it one more time, the car coughing like it hadn't been woken up in years, the starter whining weakly beneath me as she finally turns on.

I briskly clap my hands together, a small surge of joy running through me in excitement.

And she lives to see another day.

Cammy the Toyota Camry is almost on an eleven-year stretch, breaking down more and more every day. She is a bit of a rust bucket, but I love her dearly and I refuse to give her up. I've put a lot of money into it, trying to make sure it can get me places without leaving me stranded on the side of the road.

My dad gifted me this car when I was sixteen for my birthday since I had just gotten my license. It was also his before mine, so she's been through quite a lot if I must say.

Even though she gives me a lot of problems, and when I say a lot... I mean a lot- I decided to just keep her anyway because she's few of the only things I have left of him.

He passed away four years ago from lung cancer and she's just a small reminder that I have of him. It gives me something to look forward to when I get in this little shitbox - much love though.

So for that, I accept the hardships and breeze through them with a smile on my face.

I drive through the midst of the traffic, listening to some R&B as I make my way to the office. I'm starting to feel those little nervous jitters kick back in and my stomach starts to twist and turn like I'm on a rollercoaster, but I try my best to ignore it, focusing on the radio.

In all seriousness, it's really not that big of a deal. They already want me and I'm sure the signing will turn out fairly well, so I don't understand why I am so anxious.

After a decent twenty-minute drive, I pulled up to the front of the large building, told that I was not meant to park myself since there was apparently a valet that would do it for me.

I see someone standing in a portable booth right in front of the doors, who I suspect is the one I am looking for. He immediately drops all he is doing before he wraps around the front of my car to open the door for me.

I give him a gracious smile as I grab my empty can so it's not in his way and my purse out of the seat. I turn my car off before stepping out, acknowledging him with a nod as I give him my keys, "Thank you so much."

"Of course, Miss. Williams." He smiles back.

I'm shocked to hear my last name fall from his lips as I've never seen this man a day in my life.

Before I walk off I decide to be a good person and let him know that my car can be a jerk. "She's a bit old, so when starting her up you may have to try a few times before it actually works, just don't give up."