"Doo-wahh doo-wah." Aunt Jen hummed to the annoying song on the radio, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel. I sat in the passangers seat, staring blankly at the window with my knees to my chest; It was a nervous habit really. Aunt Jen turned the radio down and peered in my direction.
"What do you think?" she said, though I doubt she really cared if I liked it or not. "Isn't Chicago nice?"
"Yeah, I guess." I replied in a hushed tone. I didn't want to admit it to her, but it was pretty. I could see water in the distance here and there and the giant buildings made me feel so small yet so big at the same time. I peered out the window curiously and rolled the window down slightly, just enough to feel the wind on my face. I could practically smell fall in the air as I put my hand outside of the car door to feel the wind dance along my fingertips.
"What are you doing?" Aunt Jen said, looking at me as if I was mental. I didn't even turn to look at her as I replied.
"Feeling the wind."
Not long after, we reached the apartment we would be living in. It was in a nice building, on the third floor. It was open concept, but very small. I quickly made way to my room, which had a window seat that I already adored. I carried the few boxes I had in and layed down on the bare mattress with Romulus in my arms.
"This is our home now, Romulus." I said, suddenly feeling very odd at the realization that I spend most of my time talking to my cat. Falling asleep wasn't hard because of the jet lag, but my insomnia often kept me awake. I sat on the window seat and cracked the large window open, dangling my arms out the window. I was never one to be afraid of heights, but looking down made me feel slightly nauseous. The street was dark and empty, except for a few cars passing by every now and then and a flickering streetlight. Police sirens went off nearby, reminding me that I was no longer in the suburbs. I suddenly felt the need to run away, deep into the city where I could forget everything that had happened in the last couple months, but before I knew it, my insomnia was no longer keeping me awake.
"Evie! Evie!" Someone was shaking my shoulders, and unfortunately I knew exactly who that "someone" was. My eyes reluctantly flickered open as I felt a cool breeze on my skin. I noticed I was still sitting on the window seat with the window still open.
"What are you doing with the window open, Evie!?" Aunt Jen shouted.
"Calm down, I wasn't trying to commit suicide." I snapped, brushing her hands off my shoulder and walking past her.
"Don't say that." She said, hurt expressed in her words. "Whatever, I am going to go pick up some things. Don't leave the window open." And with that, she stormed out of the room. A few minutes later I heard the front door close and quickly opened one of my boxes labeled: Clothing. I changed into a gray hoodie with a UOFA logo on it, the college I planned on going to, and some ripped jeans and converse. I left my hair crazy, not even bothering brush it and peered out the window to make sure Jen had left. Grabbing my pair of keys off the counter, I said goodbye to Romulus and headed out the door, locking it behind me.
Time to explore my new friend, Chicago.
YOU ARE READING
Hello, Chicago. (ON HOLD- RECONSTRUCTION)
Teen FictionGenevieve Rayes has been living as a hermit in her room since her parents death. Venturing out only for dinner or the bathroom, her Aunt has become worried that she may never come out. So, her Aunt came up with the solution to pick up their things...
