Cups

Looking out to the sea, I couldn't believe I had moved from Franklin, KY to LA. The Au Pair Program at Sullivan University sent me here because of a job opening they had felt I would be best for. Now I stood here unsure if I could handle the periodic earthquakes, let alone some actor and actress's kids.

"Hey, lady!" The taxi driver was growing impatient that I had asked to stop by the sea for a minute. I quickly walked back and slipped in.

"Sorry. I just needed some air." He gave me a weird look through the rear view mirror.

"Are you sick, lady? I got bags up here if you need them." I smiled. He was actually trying to be kind to me.

"Not that type of sick, but thank you."

"Ah. I see. Homesickness, eh? Where you from anyway?"

This time I just looked out the window. "A lot of places, sir. A lot of places."

He didn't push any further as he drove me through the City of Angels, inadvertently leaving me to the depths of my thoughts.

Really Mel? California? How are you going to survive?

"Lady?" The driver's voice snapped me out of my reverie. "We're at the address you gave me."

I smiled again, a bit brighter this time. "Thank you for getting me here safely, sir."

"No problem, lady." I went to pay him but he held up his hand. "Just keep that smile, and be careful. I've driven several young ladies here. They always come out crying."

"Thank you." I shook his hand and grabbed my bags, before he drove off, leaving me to face the future- my future- alone.