I close the laptop and stand to my feet.
Alex is waiting for me in the back room.
She's got something behind her back.
"You can go."
I shake my head.
"I can't."
Voices fight for dominance in my head.
They mutter things in my ears.
They'll hate you if you go back.
Nobody likes a liar.
Everyone will hate you.
Nobody will understand.
Stand straighter!
They won't care.
It's all an act.
You're just their puppet.
They don't need you.
"Charlotte?"
I blink.
"Y-Yeah?"
Alex was holding out a bright red hoodie.
My mind drifted elsewhere.
To a musical very overlooked.
"Andrea saw you looking at it funny the other day. New York is cold even now."
In big bright letters it read,
City Of Dreams
NYC
My eyes widened.
She held it out.
"Go on, Charlotte. We've got plenty of memories of you. Make new ones with the ones that don't."
I take it and slip it over my head.
She smiles and I run out the door.
____________________
I stare at the ocean.
The waves crash onto the sand, trying to drown it.
But the sand stands strong.
The water splashes over my feet.
I sigh and adjust my backpack straps.
Let's do this.
____________________
Even at 9 AM on a Sunday the streets of New York are busy and buzzing with noise.
I let the smell of gas and urine to wash over me.
A breeze drifts by and I hug the sweatshirt to me.
She was right.
I put in an earbud.
Music pours out of it like water from a dam.
"Heart don't fail me now. Courage don't desert me. Don't turn back now that we're here."
Anastasia.
I smile to myself as the music fills my head.
A million things flood my brain as I force my legs to move.
I imagine Addie and whatever-her-name-is hugging when Addie lost her baby.
I remember spring break with Addie and Darren.
YOU ARE READING
City Of Dreams
General FictionSequel to New York- Where Dreams are Made Charlotte struggles to remain on top of everything. With all the problems and stress, she tries to hold it together. She tries to finish what she came to do. She tries to make her dreams come true. But...
