A New Beginning

Chapter Three

“Tell me everything!” Leah squealed, way too excited for my liking.  She sat on the chair across from me on the balcony, a glass of raspberry lemonade in her hand.

            I sighed, just wanting to go in my room and be by myself for the night, instead of giving my sister the play-by-play of my day.  However, while my day was eventful and busy, hers probably consisted of shopping for baby ‘necessities’, eating a small lunch, cleaning her already spotless apartment, catching General Hospital, and reading a book until I got home. 

            So I sucked it up and explained in slight detail what I did at Co Co’s and described the employees that I met there.  She smiled and patted my leg when I told her about my encounter with my first customer, who remained nameless since I was not about to go into the who talking to boys thing with her again.

            When I was finished, Leah was pleased, gave me a hug, then returned inside where Bobby was waiting.  I stayed outside for a minute longer, watching the sun reach the imaginary line where the sky and ocean met.  Then I went into my room and dug the notebook out of the bottom of my suitcase.  I had yet to unpack, feeling like I should keep my options open, like maybe I wouldn’t have to stay here all summer and go back home early. 

            I opened the notebook to a clean page, ready to let the words flow and my feelings escape me.  Ever since I had arrived, I couldn’t get my mind off of Nora, of how much she would have loved California.  The first place she would want to go is Rodeo Drive to browse.  She would just browse and never buy, because the point was to say that she went there, not what she purchased.  I sighed and started writing.

            Nora Dearest,

Hello Sis, I have quite a lot to get you caught up on!  I am officially in California, and I know that you would love it.  There is the beach, awesome shops, and of course cute boys.  I actually think you would totally date my new coworker Coop – and yes I said coworker.  After spending one morning alone with my sister, I knew I had to keep myself busy with something else so I wouldn’t kill her by the end of the week. 

     So, I went on an intense job search.  Just kidding – it wasn’t that intense.  It consisted of me going up and down the pier and surrounding streets until I came a cute coffee house that includes a Doodle Room, The Café, and The Big Comfy Couches.  How cool is that?  I talked to the manager and she hired me on the spot!  I got somewhat trained for it today by Coop, and after one more day of training, I’ll officially start.  I don’t know why, but my gut is telling me that I am going to like working there a lot.  Right when I entered, it felt like home.  I might sound crazy – then again, I’m writing to you who hasn’t been alive in four years – but it’s how I feel. 

     I know I keep saying this, but I think I need to reassure myself that it is the truth: I think this is the place where I will find out who I am and what I want.  I can be anyone and do anything, and I can finally move on, or at least try to.  Here, no one knows who I am or associates me with anything.  I am just Abrie, not Abriella like I was back in high school.  My past is not magnified every day like it was back home, and I can try to find happiness again. 

     As always, I miss you incredibly and I wish that I could rewrite the past.  But like you always said, no worrying about the past when you’ve got a future to look forward to.

     Love you forever,

     Abe

            I wiped the tears from my eyes and closed my notebook.  I lay down on my back, realizing that this was one of the hardest letters I had written.  I had said that I would move on endless times, but only now can I truly see that it is possible.