Secrets In The Dark

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"Kelly! Kelly!" Your best friend Audrey shouts as she shakes your shoulder vigorously.

"What?" You mutter as you take out your headphones and look to your friend sitting next to you.

"Can you believe that we're almost in Los Angeles!? We've dreamt about this our whole lives and it's finally happening!" She squeals as she bounces like a child in her seat.

"I know. It's so surreal. I'm already missing home though..." You whisper as you toy with your headphones in your hands.

"Oh please don't do that already Kelly! I really want to get settled here and enjoy myself! I want you to enjoy yourself too! We both really deserve this..." She says with her bright smile.

"I know, I know. I'll get over it. I just need to find the closest Starbucks and the beach and I'm sure I'll be fine." You say as you smile back at her and lean your head against her shoulder.

"There's the Kelly I know and love!" She says as she squeezes you gently.

You both stare out the window of the plane until you land in Los Angeles. As the pilot makes the announcement of your arrival you both squeal with joy. You know that Los Angeles is going to be a major change from your hometown in Missouri. Neither you or Audrey have ever stepped foot in Los Angeles so moving here was a big lifechanging event for the two of you.

You had it all planned out though. You both had already found an apartment to rent in Laguna Beach that had two bedrooms and one bathroom. You could tell from the photos that it was rather small and needed some work but it was cheaper than most apartments in the area and a quick walk to the beach. Audrey had already found a job as a waitress down the street through a phone interview and you would concentrate on your photography.

You've loved photography from as far back as you can remember. Your parents bought you your first camera when you were only six years old. It was a kid's camera but you loved it all the same. Now that you're 18 years old  and starting a new life of your own, you've moved up a bit. You especially like taking photos of people on the street. People who don't know that they're being captured.

You have this theory that when people aren't aware that they're being watched that that's when they're the most beautiful. You once caught an old man walking down the street alone at night, talking to himself and laughing with someone who wasn't even there. As you took his photographs time and time again that night, you found how comfortable he was with himself. That was the night you were inspired to become a photographer.

"I'm happy that we packed light! I would hate to have to carry a ton of luggage through this massive airport!" Audrey says as she throws her carry on bag across her shoulder.

"Yeah. This place is rather big isn't it?" You say as you squint your eyes as you look beyond the hundreds of heads in front of you.

"Let's get going to our new place shall we?" Audrey says as she wraps her arm in yours.

"Off we go!" You say with a laugh and a jump towards the beginning of your new adventure.

The bright yellow cab stops in front of the small apartment complex within just a few hours of your landing. You pay the cab man as Audrey removes your luggage from the trunk. The sun is just beginning to set and the light creates a beautiful soft glow on the white brick of the apartment. The windows are huge and the place has beachy character surrounding it.

"I like it already..." Audrey says as she clasps her hands together and giggles.

"Yeah? Are we ready to take our first steps into our first place?" You ask as you raise your eyebrow and look to an over excited Audrey.

"YES!" She shouts as she jumps up and runs up the three steps to the door.

"Okay. Here we go..." You whisper as you put the key in the lock and turn it slowly.

As you open the door you both peer in and take a quick look around. The apartment is dark with all of the window treatments shut and it smells of salt water. Audrey steps in first and clicks the light on in the living room. As the room lights up, so does your smile. The apartment is beautiful.

You saw the photos online but none of the photos did it as much justice as walking into it does. The walls are a light blue with white crownsmolding all around. The floors are a dark wood and creak slightly as you walk across them. The kitchen is to the left of the big room and has whie cabinets and old appliances. It also has the dark brown creaky wooden floors. All of the apartment does actually.

You and Audrey begin to turn on all of the lights in the apartment to light it up so that you can get a  good look at things. Both of the bedrooms are small and the bathroom is even smaller. There is no way that the both of you will be able to get ready at the same time in the morning. You will have to go one at a time. You'll probably be first since you always wake up way before Audrey does.

"I'm happy that the landlord left the original furniture here." Audrey says as she plops down on the cream sofa bed.

"Yeah! The furniture isn't too bad actually. It fits the apartment rather well..." You say as you iinspect the small seashell design on the chair in the corner.

"It's very beachy. All that we ever wanted." Audrey says with another wide smile.

"Now we just need to add our own personal touches!" You say as you jump up from the couch and make your way over to your luggage in the middle of the floor.

As you rummage through your bag you find exactly what you're looking for.

"Aw, once you put those up it will really feel like home..." Audrey whispers from across the room.

You grab three nails from a small container in your purse and get up from the floor. You look for the biggest wall in the room and settle for the wall that has the cream couch lined against it. You stand on the couch and hold a single nail in your mouth and hand two photographs to Aubrey.

First, you hang your photograph of the red barn on your familys' property. That was the first photo that you ever had printed. The sun was just setting and the lighting on the barn was absolutely perfect. You couldn't help but take the shot when you had the chance.

Second, you hang up the photograph of your family dog, Ram. Your father named him after his favorite football team, the St. Louis Rams. You found it rather ironic that your father named the family dog after another type of animal. Ram is a German Shepherd Mix and is the most beautiful dog you've ever seen. Not that you're being bias or anything.

Last, you hang up the photograph of the old man that was walking along the sidewalk at night talking and laughing with himself. It's your favorite photograph of all the photographs you've taken. The man looks so at peace with himself. His wrinkles are deepset in his forehead and cheeks, his clothes are a little dirty and worn, and his hair is grey. He doesn't look like anyone special, but you know that he is. Everyone is.

"There. Now it finally feels like home..." You whisper as you step back and take a look at the newly decorated wall.

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