Warriors

1

2024

The LAX Airport always gave me the chills. As I exit my mom's car, a Mercedes Benz, I caught a winter breeze. The airport was loud, with drivers honking and loved ones saying goodbye to each other. I went to the back of the car and opened the trunk. I took out my black suitcase and readied myself. My mom came around and hugged me.

"Good luck Autumn." she said proudly, but also with a bit of sadness. My mom, Agnes Rivers, a woman in her forties was wearing black khakis and a white button down shirt. I was about two inches taller than her, but this never stopped her from tippy toeing and hugging and kissing me.

"Bye mom!" I let go of the hug and walked into the airport. It was ten at night and my flight is in 3 hours to Massachusetts. I went to the desk to check in and weighed my luggage. There wasn't a really long line for security over the years since technology has evolved. We didn't have to take off our shoes and put our stuff through this conveyor belt thing. All we had to do was walk through a security system.

After this, I entered this waiting area. It was really big and many people were rushing and with phones either in their hand or talking to someone.

I went over to Starbucks near a departure lounge. I ordered my usual, vanilla bean Frappuccino. I had a ten minute wait and after I got my drink, I went to my departure lounge. There weren't many people and I went ahead and got seated near the big windows. Outside, I saw many airplanes and people driving around. It was dark outside, but the little lights on the landing strip gave off a little bit of light.

I probably dozed off because, when I checked my phone, it was 12:45.

Fifteen more minutes. Ugh.

I waited for a few more moments until a lady and a bunch of people came out of the gate. They opened the door and beckons us to come. People started to line up and showed their tickets to the flight attendants and entered the door. The lady checked my ticket and I entered the door, walked on the tarmac and was on the plane. I went to find my seat, 37A.

Relieved that I found my seat, I quickly seated myself. I was sitting on the window seat and in front of me was a mini sized tv with a remote next to it and a fold up tray.

I was going to Massachusetts Institute of Technology a private university in Cambridge. Two years ago, they announced a competition for all college students interested in engineering and technology to build a machine of their own and present it at a convention on their campus. My professor back at Stanford, Professor A, encouraged me to join and I agreed.

The flight was about six hours long and when I looked out the window, it was already the day.

When we finally landed, I quickly got off and went through the procedures and went to claim my luggage. I exited the airport and found that it was colder than it was in California. I dug through my backpack and took out my extra sweater and put it on.

I was suppose to go to an apartment my dad rent for me. My dad always makes a big deal out of everything. He feels like I shouldn't be living in a hotel room, but my own house. He is also the CEO of a really big company. I never really told anyone this because, people tend to always get worked up about this idea.

I flagged down a taxi and gave the taxi driver the address.

When he stopped, we were in front of a bricked apartment with a wooden white door in the center of two windows. I got out and paid the driver and fished out the keys out of my pocket that my dad gave me. I opened the door and pushed it open.

It was really small compared to the mansion I lived in back in California. There was a sofa pushed against on the wall to my right and a tv up against the wall to my left. There was a kitchen in the back of the tiny room with a round dining table. I walked in and found stairs to the right of the television that lead to a second floor. There was only two rooms and a bathroom upstairs. I chose the biggest bedroom and left my stuff in there. There was only a queen sized bed and a desk.

I sighed and said, "Well this is going to be an interesting two weeks,"