Almost Us

Chapter 2

The next morning, Aiden headed out for the office, leaving Shea and her father to continue their search for a place of their own. Later that day, a call came from the building's secretary, who promised to send someone to show them a nearby unit. Excitement flickered across Shea's face as they waited. When the doorbell rang, she opened it to find a young man, polite yet businesslike, ready to escort them to the flat.

He led them down the hall to a first-floor unit, room number 106. The door creaked open, revealing a compact, one-bedroom apartment with potential hidden beneath the dust and dim light. It was similar in layout to Aiden's place, yet somehow felt different. Shea wandered through, noticing the small bedroom window that overlooked the building's entrance. From here, anyone coming or going would be clearly visible. The kitchen had a small, enclosed balcony, and its window faced forward as well, adding a hint of light to the otherwise shadowed room.

Despite its shabby state, Shea found it sweet in its own way. Her father seemed far more impressed, his face brightening as he explored. After days of sifting through cramped, dingy, and frankly unsafe rentals, this flat was a rare find. Though it had no furniture—save for an old, oversized chair in the corner of the bedroom—and had clearly been neglected for months, it was open, airy, and secure. Without a second thought, her father turned to the man and nodded, launching straight into discussions about the deposit and rent.

Shea hesitated, glancing back toward the hall where Aiden's apartment was just a few doors down. Living on the same floor as Aiden unsettled her; she feared he'd end up keeping tabs on her and, worse, sharing her secrets with her father. She quickly asked the man about the flat on the fourth floor that the secretary had mentioned earlier, but he shrugged, explaining that it had already been rented. Her father, intent on securing this rare find, pressed forward, paying the deposit on the spot and sealing the deal.

With the paperwork sorted and a deep cleaning scheduled, Shea's new apartment felt almost within reach. By the next morning, the moving truck pulled up as planned, stacked high with her old furniture—remnants of her past life, now bound for the next chapter. Piece by piece, they unloaded everything, arranging what they could in the freshly scrubbed rooms. It was barely organized chaos, but Shea and her father worked together to turn the bare, dusty space into something that resembled home.

As the day wore on, however, it became clear that they'd only scratched the surface. Boxes were still piled high, and furniture sat awkwardly, waiting for its place. Despite their determination, the apartment felt unsettled, with all the trappings of a home but none of its warmth or ease. Tomorrow loomed large: it was Shea's first day at her internship, and the anxiety of entering the unknown was beginning to edge its way in.

Amid the chaos of unpacking, she'd almost forgotten that her father would be leaving soon, heading back home. As she looked around the half-furnished apartment, the idea of being alone—truly alone—in a new city, in a strange apartment where every sound would be foreign and every shadow unfamiliar, unsettled her.

Aiden dropped by their place. Seeing the maze of boxes and half-finished arrangements, he suggested they spend just one more night at his place. "You can't start your first day half-asleep from unpacking," he said, a smirk of concern mixed with humor.

But Shea shook her head, her stubborn streak kicking in. "No, I need to be here tonight, in my own space. I want to wake up here, no matter how unfinished it feels," she replied with a tired but determined smile. For Shea, it was a silent declaration of independence, an anchor to her new city, her new chapter.

And so, with boxes stacked high, furniture waiting patiently for its rightful place, and Shea's nerves a mixture of exhaustion and excitement, she moved into her new apartment, ready to face both the scattered challenge of her new home and the thrill of her first day at work.