Get Up Whenever You Fall

Nikolina

A red light flashes above my seat signaling that the stewardess is about to speak. I pull my earphones out and pause the song that is playing on my iPod.

"Dear passengers, we are about to land in Sydney in Kingsford-Smith Airport. We hope you had a good flight. Thank you for flying with Qantas Airways, have a nice stay in sunny Australia." A high pitched and overly cheery voice comes through the speakers.

We're really going to land. We are really here. I tap my foot nervously on the floor. My thoughts are as far away from Croatia and everything I had there as I am. 9940 miles. But I still can't help but feel excited.

About twenty minutes later, we leave the rent-a-car office and head to the parking lot. When we reach the rented car, we stuff our luggage into the truck and got in. Dad driving, mum sitting shotgun, and me and the back.

As soon as I sit down, I turn my iPod back on and put the earphones in. My parents are used to me not participating in car conversations and instead listening to music and taking pictures of the nature through the window. Dad starts the car and gets on the main road.

The nature around us is captivating. On the left there are hundreds of palm trees and green plants that are swaying in the light morning wind. And on the right is the dark, blue ocean. I've loved the water since I was little, so I'm really glad that we're moving to a town that is also on the beach. The sun is hitting me in the face but I don't mind. It just makes me feel even freer.

It feels so good being away from all that I ever hated or ever made me sad. To know I have an opportunity to start over, far away from that people, the prison I called school for 4 years, the demons I called teacher that only focused on preaching me how I will get nowhere by being myself. I have a new life here, in Sydney, and I never felt happier.

I slightly open the window and the warm breeze hits me. I lean my head on the headrest, and I close my eyes. The jet lag comes a bit too early or is it the 9 hour difference between Sydney and Split? I drift to sleep anyways.

* * * *

It's been five days since we moved into our new house. But it isn't as glamorous as it looks from the outside, and I was glad. I still am not used to it though. It is so big and I still didn't remember which room is which except mine. Huge windows, modern, grey and purple walls. Dream room.

I finish unpacking a few hours ago and now I'm putting up things on the wall. In all honesty, I am just trying to find things to do because I'm bored out of my mind. I know coming here just when the summer started isn't a good idea, but my parents need to start working right away. My dad's new boss found my mum a new job here, too, so she is working all day, too. I am completely on my own. My friends from back home are probably still sleeping now and I don't know anyone here.

I sigh and look around my new room. There is absolutely nothing to do. I never had a Saturday like this, and it's only 11am. I get to one of my big bedroom windows and look at the 'outside world' and then back at my room and a mischievous smile appears on my face.

I run to my closet and quickly grab some clothes, pull my hair in a messy pony tail and put a bandanna on. I grab my phone from the black nightstand and run down the stairs. I search for the house keys and find them on the little table by the door. I roll my eyes at my own stupidity.

I leave the house, lock it and stroll down the driveway. Which way to go? Right or left? What did mum say about the way to the city? Left? Yea, I think she said left. I turn to the left and walk happily down the road. I start humming the tune of 'Hey There Delilah' while observing every little detail around me.

I see a few skyscrapers in the near distance, but the road doesn't seem to lead there. I shrug my pessimistic thought of getting lost and continue walking. It seems that I have come near the beach. I can smell the salt in the air and I remember that mum said the beach is not even 10 minutes away by foot but that skyscrapers don't seem any closer.