"Almost Together" is a heartwarming, relatable story that captures the thrill and confusion of a new city, the first taste of freedom, and the "almosts" of a relationship not fully realized. Dive into Shea's journey as she balances the challenges of...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
In January, Shea packed her bags and left for a new city, stepping out of college life and into the corporate world. She was the first of her friends to make the leap, leaving behind the familiar routines of campus and diving into something entirely new. The timing was intense — she was still in her final year, which meant juggling the demands of her internship alongside completing her eighth semester online.
Shea had no clear idea of how she'd manage it all. The thought of balancing work and classes was overwhelming, and she couldn't help but feel a knot of nerves growing in her stomach. She'd never been to this new city before and didn't know a soul there. She wondered what her new colleagues would be like, if the work would be manageable, if she'd even have time to breathe between deadlines and assignments.
But mixed with the nerves was a spark of excitement — a thrill at the unknown. She was stepping into the real world, finally putting all those years of study to the test. As she looked out the window of the plane, watching the city lights grow closer, she took a deep breath. No matter what was ahead, Shea was ready to see how it would all unfold.
Shea traveled with her father by her side, a comforting presence as she prepared for the six months she would spend in this unfamiliar city. Her father had insisted on coming along, wanting to help his daughter settle in as she began her first internship, and Shea was grateful for it. Fortunately, he had an old friend whose son, Aiden, was already working in the same company where Shea would intern.
She remembered meeting Aiden years ago, when she was a new college student and Aiden's family had visited her home. Back then, she'd barely noticed him — just another polite hello in a room full of guests. Little did she know that this quiet boy would soon become a central part of her life. As they disembarked at the bustling airport, her father reached out to Aiden, asking for help and guidance in navigating the city and finding a place for Shea to stay. Within minutes, Aiden's response came back: "Take an Uber and head over to my place. We can figure things out from here."
The plan sounded simple enough, but as they rode through the city streets, Shea's nerves began to bubble up again. She leaned toward her father, quietly asking if they could just freshen up at Aiden's place before moving to a hotel. Staying at Aiden's didn't feel right — too much, too soon, in a place she barely knew, with someone she hadn't really spoken to. Her father smiled, understanding her hesitation, but assured her that Aiden was only offering to help.
When they finally pulled up outside Aiden's apartment building, Shea took a deep breath, telling herself this was all part of her new adventure. Little did she know, this one chance meeting would lead to a connection that would shape her time in this new city in ways she could never have imagined.
Shea's eyes scanned the tall, eight-story structure before catching sight of Aiden himself. It had been nearly four years since they'd last seen each other, and in an instant, memories of that brief, almost forgotten meeting years ago rushed back. Aiden came downstairs to greet them and immediately helped her father with the bags, flashing an easy smile that seemed to make her father relax right away. They all headed up to his apartment, Room 103 on the first floor.
