Directions to Happiness

"It's good to be back"

Chapter One -

Dear Nobody,

I did it.

I don't have a lot of time to explain, but here's the short version.

I'm free.

Yours newly freed,

Eugenia

***

Getting off an airplane isn't as easy as it seems. Being squished in between a man hairier than bigfoot and a lady who keeps screaming in your ear as everyone is pushing themselves forward isn't as fun as it seems. This situation is giving me the biggest migraine ever.

"HONEY, DO YOU KNOW WHERE MY PURSE IS." She asked me well, more like yelled at me.

"Ma'am your purse is around your arm," I replied, trying to keep my eye roll to myself.

"WHAT WAS THAT." This lady cannot be serious right now.

Just when I thought my situation couldn't get any worse than it is at the moment, the hairy man in front of me decided to help out the old lady behind me. I would've been fine with him helping her, but once he lifted his arm to point at the bag, his armpit was right in front of my face. When I say I've never smelt something so awful in my whole life, I mean it. His armpit smelt like old fish, expired milk and rotten eggs all at once! I thought I would die right then and there. When I caught sight of the exit and hurried towards it not caring about the fact that I was pushing everyone out of my way.

As I was getting out of the plane, someone bumped into me pushing me to the ground. I turned around to see if the person was alright but instead was welcomed by a guy with an apologetic smile and his hand offering to help me up.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there," he said with an awkward tone to his voice, I took his hand in mine and got off the ground and smiled at him.

"It's fine," I said super quickly while turning my back to him and making my way out of the plane.

I rushed to the airport and snatched my luggage, as soon as I could. Now for the hard part; finding my aunt. It would be easy to find her if she brought my cousin because she's a giant and easy to see, but my aunt was an elf in comparison to her daughter. She was a close 5 ft on good days, but on bad days she was 4'10 ft (which was actually every day but she claims otherwise.) My aunt was the sweetest person you could meet, she always put people before herself and is very open to anything. She was the one who helps me run away from my home, which I was grateful for.

In the far distance, I saw aunt Joan on a stool waving a paper with my name on it, looking around frantically. Me being me decided to give her a little scare, so I started walking towards the side of the airport so I could walk around her and scare her. After walking around like a slick spy, I was right behind her small figure, and when I was about to grab her and scare her, she turned around and jumped on me.

"GIGI !" My aunt screeched in my ear, I think she broke my eardrums.

"Hi aunty," I said cringing away from her strong embrace.

"Omg, honey you've gotten so skinny," She said while she grabbed my face and squeezed my cheeks together. "Once we get home I'm gonna fatten you up." she smiled at me, and I gave her hug.

"Ok let's get going Amaya is waiting for us." I nodded my head and grabbed my luggage.

While I was leaving the airport, I saw the boy I bumped into on the plane staring at me with a small dimpled smile. He seemed like the type of guy that could always put a smile on your face, I smiled back at him, and he waved at me, his eyes twinkling with mischievous. I felt my cheeks becoming warm, and my stomach fluttered.

"Gigi what's taking you so long, get moving young lady." And just like that, the moment was ruined.

I exited the airport, got in Aunt Joan's old Volkswagen and the boy from the plane became a distant memory.

In the car, Aunt Joan was talking about some places I should visit, people I would like, jobs I could get and about the schools I could go to if I decided I didn't want to go to school with Amaya.

However, while we were passing by the trees and all the new faces, the only thing I could focus on was that I wasn't alone anymore and that I won't be hurt by people I should trust and maybe I could try to be happy for once in a long time.

***

We got home at 1:00 am, and aunt Joan couldn't keep her mouth closed, We were in the car for about an hour, and she's been talking nonstop since, Not that I had a problem with it, it was just different from the treatment I usually get.

My aunt's house was lovely small two story house with a white picket fence and a beautiful garden decorating the sides of the house. The neighborhood was the definition of a white community. They probably trim their grass every week and held white themed parties every month.

I rolled my eyes and scoffed "I didn't know you moved." I kicked a rock into the fence and looked at my aunt stopping our footsteps.

"We had to I didn't want Amaya to growing up with bad influences surrounding her." She said somberly with a sad look.

"Well, I did." I scoffed and made my way to the house.

"I know you did; however, I did try my best to get you out as soon as I could. I am only human at the end of the day."

I knew I was wrong about what I just did, but I had to much pride to say sorry. To be honest, I'm just jealous of my aunt and Amaya because life is more comfortable for them now, they got out of a toxic environment and got a fresh start. But for me, it won't be that easy because I may have left half of my problems behind but, the other half rest upon my skin and another part are me.

Aunt Joan opened the door, and I dragged my luggage inside we tried our best to stay quiet so that we wouldn't wake Amaya but that wasn't needed because she was in the living room with a bunch of her friends and it looked like they weren't going asleep anytime soon.

"Oh mom, I thought you were coming home later." She choked out with a sheepish smile.

"The airplane landed earlier." She said curtly and started going upstairs "I'm going to sleep, Amaya show Gigi her room."

One thing about my aunt when she gets mad she never yells at you and immediately punishes you, she treats you with the exact amount of disrespect that you did, and it never turns out well.

"Everyone, leave." She said and started to clean up the mess her friends left behind.

One by one her friends started to leave, and one thing they all had in common was that all gave me a confused look. They're probably wondering why I'm in this house.

"Well that could've gone better," Amaya exclaimed, clapping her hands together. "Come here, I've missed you!" Amaya grabbed me and gave me a hug that surely left bruises on my ribs."

"Sorry to cut this short but I'm really jet-lagged, So can you show me my room, please," I said pulling away from the hug.

"Of course," She grabbed my luggage and started going up the stairs. "Mom said you'll start school in two days and that you'll be going to my school, just a heads up I've told a lot of people you're coming so don't be freaked out if people know your name. Oh, what if we have the same classes that'll be sooo fun."

Amaya continued to ramble about her school, her friends, places she goes out to and etc. I tried to keep up with her, but after a while trying to keep up with a girl who speaks 50 words per minute with only 2 hours of sleep is hard and tiring. So, I decided to go with nodding my head and saying the typical; Oh, mhm and yeah.

Amaya finally stopped talking after a few and stopped in front of the door, which I assume is my room.

"Okay here's your room, If you need anything I am two doors to your right and mom is at the end of the hall."

"Thank you, Mais."

Amaya closed her eyes and let a smile grace her face. "Haven't heard that nickname in so long, Is good to have you back Nia," she said while going back to her room.

I entered my room and let out a heavy sigh. "It's good to be back."