Everything has side effects. Everything. Karma, as some call it, and can be determined good or bad. You can't have light without dark, or dark without light.
That's the thing about life. You never know what's going to happen. You have to live to find out. You can't sit still and be happy. You are one person in a whole world of people.
Every evening, the news would play, and almost all commercials were of medication. All the side effects had to be listed:
Fatigue...
...Depression...
...Anxiety...
...Complications or failure in breathing...
...Or in fatal causes, death.
All of them gave me a reason to live. As stupid and silly as a commercial about drugs can be, they reminded me of how much a person can suffer.
I couldn't just stay in my boring town in Michigan. As much as my Mom wanted me to stay, I had to leave.
It was easy for me. Leaving. My family doesn't have anything for me. They never cared enough to even call on my birthday or even say hello. My mother was the only one holding me back, but even she couldn't keep me from living.
My sister, Victoria, already lives in Santa Monica, California. I'll be staying near her, while attending an online college. Victoria found me a small one room apartment next to hers. She's also in the same major as me. Radio/Film production.
I left my house just a few minutes ago, now on a plane to LAX, where I'll see my sister for the first time in three years. I turn on my music and put on the earbuds. 'Barcelona' by Ed Sheeran played on shuffle and filled my ears with giddiness as we took off the ground.
I've always loved airplanes. Flying away, closer to the stars. It's what keeps me awake. If only I could go farther in the sky.
The plane lands, and for some reason people clap. Such a weird expression. Number one, why is everyone clapping? Who is receiving this gesture of gratitude? And two, why bang out hands around to make an annoying noise, waking up many infants and making them cry? That's exactly what happened. A child is currently screaming its lungs out.
I get off the plane and call an Uber. My luggage stayed by my side while people from different places all filled in one room.
My Uber showed up and drove me to my new apartment. Victoria and I are sharing her apartment. I have a large room, and I pay for some of the rent. She had the living room and kitchen area, and we both had a bedroom.
Victoria should be home soon. She texted me saying she was doing work at her office. She's a regular at some low budget radio station.
I showed up at the apartment complex and found Victoria's room. The spare key was under the mat. I knew Victoria like the back of my hand. She was always cliche and obvious.
I walk in and smell the air. Old paint and furniture cleaner filled my nose.
I walk around, setting my stuff down. Large windows cover that walls looking over the city. A small kitchen with an island laid to the left and a high table stood in the far left corner. A tv and couch on the far right and a long hallway to the middle right of me connected her room and mine.
"Athena! How are you?!" I hear a voice behind me. My sister runs up to me and indulges me in a bear hug. She smelt like coconut and she had a t shirt with shorts on. Her flip flops and shoulder bag reminded me of tripping over them all over the house.
"Good! My flight was great. I need to start unpacking, though. I start tomorrow," I explain to her.
"Oh yeah. Your boxes came the other day. Mom called and asked me about what company you wanted to shadow. I think you brought it up before," Victoria asked as she set the mail on this counter.
