just business (l.t.)

the end where i begin//

I step off the plane at the airport and look around me. London sure is gloomier than I thought.

The rain cascades down on the Tarmac and I can literally feel the humidity turn my hair into a bird's nest.

I hail a cabbie and practically slip into the vehicle. Damn wet sidewalks...

"Hi there! I'm sorry about your um, floor," I say as I see the little puddles pooling under my shoes.

"It's quite alright, love. I guess you could say that I'm used to it. Where are ya headin' today?" He sends me a friendly smile and I rummage through my bag. Finally I read off the address I had quickly scribbled on the back of a takeout receipt.

I was super lucky that my friend Karen from high school was letting me stay with her. She had always said that her career as an artist would take her big places, and she was right. Her studio apartment in London was something of a big achievement as she was only 23 and had some of her works in the London museum of art.

"So, are you here on holiday? I can tell by your accent that you're not from around here." The cab driver said as he pulled away from the curb.

"Well, I guess that I'm living here now?" I say and scratch the back of my neck. I still can't even believe it myself, really.

"You guess?" He laughs "Do you know anything about the area?" He turns on his signal and we change lanes evading traffic.

"Not really, I'm staying with a friend though, so I'm sure she can tell me" I say as I look out at the window at the passing buildings.

"And how long has she lived here?" He asks making small talk.

"Probably for about 4 years now? She came over here right out of high school." The driver's eyes flicker back at me in the overhead mirror. "You need to make sure to ask her about the area, especially if you're going to be out on your own." He says with a serious undertone, the light humor gone from his eyes.

I want to roll my eyes internally now, what do I look like, a 5 year old? He sounds just like my mom who I was trying to get away from, but even an ocean away it's as if her protectiveness still follows me.

He looks back at me again when I don't say anything, "Look, you seem like a nice girl and I'm just trying to help you out," his foreign accent sings beautifully in my ears, I must admit. "But this area, especially the one you're staying in has a lot of what you might call gang activity." He looks back to gauge my reaction.

To be honest, it's really nothing that I'm surprised with. We had "gang activity" back home, there's gang activity everywhere! It's like saying the sky's blue, it's obvious. I mean, what could possibly be different about crime here than at home?

"It's an upscale part of town, yes, but that doesn't mean there aren't things you need to be aware of." At this point, I'm a little annoyed with his beating around the bush. "Okay, I'll be sure to ask her about it, thanks". He signals as we reach the entrance of the building and pulls to the curb.

"Just be careful, love. Always keep your guard." He says as he looks around the outside of the cab at the passer bys and then back to me. I hand him the money and meet his stare, "I will, thank you, sir".

I resist the urge to roll my eyes and I climb out of the cab and look up the tall building. I'm really here, I actually did it. I start walking towards the entrance when I finally hear the cab pull away.

Although I am a little curious as to what he was talking about, the overwhelming excitement of actually being here outweighed the little paranoia I had about what he was talking about.

I push open to the door of the building, ready to start a new chapter of my life.