The Italian Dream

Chapter 1

"She's in a window seat sitting alone.

Her suitcase is spilling out untaken photos

Of European architecture, an apartment on the coast

She's on an airplane heading to Rome

She's on an airplane sitting alone."

Corey's vocals faded out as I slipped my headphones off. The pilot's voice on the overheard speaker alerted me to the wonders I was about to uncover. This was it; my chance to see the world the way I wanted to see it. I was no longer held back by controlling family members and fake friends who didn't care what I was doing at this moment. It was all for me, and as selfish as it sounds, I loved it.

Gradually the plane descended, the pressure on my ears reducing allowing me to pop them and get back to normal. But this wasn't normality; this was my new life, as cliché as it sounds. We circled the airport a couple of times as I stared out of the window in awe, breathing in the moment.

Fumbling for my camera, I captured the moment before it passed and stored it forever on a tiny SD card that would soon hold all memories dearest to me. Eventually I felt the touchdown of the wheels on the runway, yet another smooth landing in another beautiful destination. One of my dreams coming true because I was officially in Rome.

Thinking about all the people back home left that little bit of heartache and regrets lingering in my mind. But this was a decision I had made years ago. For years, I had spent every moment I could working long shifts at the cafe around the corner, trying to scrape together any last penny I could to put towards this trip. Nonna always told me "you are your only hope" and as always, she couldn't have been more correct. I was the one who booked and paid for my one-way ticket out of England. I was the one who worked for that money, and I was the one who studied my ass off so I could escape the clutches of my parents and "go to uni". At least, that's what they thought I was doing.

One might think I was being deceitful, which I was. But to who? They weren't parents to me. From the moment I started planning my great escape, I knew they wouldn't even notice I was out of the country until I would supposedly finish university. Of course, that would never happen. Even then, I doubt my parents would acknowledge my presence. I was just an inconvenience in their path to building up their empire of hotels and restaurants. I guess Nonna's words were solidified by their actions, which is what got me here in the first place.

As we rolled into the airport, my knee was shaking as I anxiously waited to get off the aeroplane. I could see the person sitting next to me in my peripheral vision. He was staring at me in confusion and most probably scared of the erratic girl who was basically bouncing in her seat.

The three bleeps went off, signifying I could take off my seat belt and get my luggage. The poor guy next to me, if he hadn't seen me beforehand, probably wouldn't have been prepared and I would've ended up climbing over him. Luckily for him, he was already out of his seat, providing me space to grab my carry-on and sling it over my shoulder.

After enduring the painfully slow process of exiting the plane, I was hit with the humidity of Italy. My happiness was short-lived as I followed the crowd through Passport Control, towards baggage collection. I made sure to get them to stamp my passport, as I began my journey. Thankfully, I am one to pack light as I only brought my carry-on and a suitcase. After hoisting my suitcase off the conveyor belt, I exited Fiumicino Airport feeling the happiest I have in years.