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NIKA MÜHL (narrative and short insta)
Finding our first home in Seattle felt both thrilling and bittersweet. Rylee and I had spent weeks scrolling through listings, debating neighborhoods, and imagining what our life together would look like in each house we saw. When we finally walked into the one, I knew immediately.
The house wasn't big, but it was cozy, with warm wooden floors and a bright kitchen that overlooked a small, fenced backyard. The living room had a fireplace, and the bedroom was just the right size for the two of us—and maybe, eventually, more. The moment we stepped inside, I could picture us there: cooking together, laughing over silly things, sitting by the fire on rainy nights.
"What do you think?" Rylee asked, her voice quiet as we walked through the house.
I turned to look at her, the excitement clear in her eyes despite the small crease of worry in her brow. "It feels...right," I said, my voice thick with emotion.
Her grin lit up the room, and she grabbed my hand, pulling me into her arms. "You mean it?"
I nodded, laughing at her enthusiasm. "I mean it, Rylee. This feels like home."
After a quick hug with our realtor and a flurry of signatures, the house was officially ours. Standing outside with the keys in hand, I couldn't help but feel the weight of the moment. This was the start of a new chapter, one that was both exciting and a little scary.
Rylee wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. "We're going to make so many memories here, Nika," she said, her voice full of quiet confidence.
I leaned into her, letting her warmth steady me. "I can't wait."
Moving day came faster than I expected.
As we packed up our old apartment, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. The little space had been our first home together, filled with laughter, arguments over whose turn it was to do the dishes, and countless late-night talks. Leaving it felt like leaving a piece of us behind.
Rylee seemed to feel it too. She spent extra time wrapping up little trinkets, pausing to hold onto photos and mementos longer than necessary. But every time I caught her looking wistful, she'd glance at me, smile, and say, "Seattle's going to be amazing, Nika. You'll see."
It wasn't until the moving truck was unloaded and the boxes were piled high in our new house that the excitement truly hit. We stood in the middle of the empty living room, looking around at the bare walls and imagining the life we'd fill them with.
"What do you think, babe?" Rylee asked, her voice soft.
I turned to her, my chest tightening with love. "I think we're going to be really happy here."
That night, after hours of unpacking, we decided to take a break. The furniture wasn't set up yet, so we sat on the floor with takeout boxes and a bottle of wine, laughing about how unprepared we were for adulting.
