Keys to Happiness

3. Aliah

The Piedmont Triad Airport was full that evening as I waited anxiously for the flight that would take me to South Korea. Sitting down in the waiting area patiently, I closed my eyes and anticipated the coming storm that was my mother and sister. They had come to see me off, but during our whole ride to the airport they had berated me with reasons why I shouldn't be leaving.

Both had similar temperaments, which had led to heated battles between the two as we'd grown up, but it usually became much worse for the person who had gotten on both of their bad sides or in the middle. Unfortunately, that was my current position and they were making sure I knew just how badly I was screwing up my life.

"Aliah, why do you have to teach all the way in Korea? You're just going to give up a great job at UNCG to go there; do you really think it's worth it? You were a college professor and you'll only be a regular teacher in Korea!"

Like usual my mom was freaking and bright red spots in her cheeks stand out against her light caramel complexion. Beside her stood my sister and they stared down at me as I sat in my seat, effectively boxing me in so that I had no choice but to listen to their tirade.

"Yeah Lia, what happened to you waiting until I graduated to move? You're breaking your promise," my younger sister Maya whined.

I rolled my eyes at their obvious display, but I didn't say anything. I knew from experience things would only get worse and that they would have much more to say if I tried to defend myself. And really, what was the point? No matter what they said I was still getting on that plane.

"Listen Lia, I know things have been hard for you since Marcus and you broke up but..."

I immediately sat up, my anger exploding all of a sudden and I cut my mom off mid-sentence.

"Since we broke up?" I scoffed in annoyance. "How about since he cheated on me two weeks before our wedding?! And I'm not leaving because of Marcus; I always wanted to go overseas and this is my opportunity to do so. I have nothing holding me here."

I was practically spitting I was so mad. I didn't even want to hear the name Marcus, let alone acknowledge that a large part of the reason I'd sought this opportunity truly had been my own need to get away from him and the memories that we shared. But if I wasn't honestly admitting it to myself, then there was no way in hell I was going to say it to my mom.

"What about us?" my sister asked quietly, for once her exuberance was turned down so low that she seemed normal. And now that I took a good look at her, I could see that she was genuinely upset. Despite how I was feeling, I hadn't meant for my decision to leave home to have such an impact on her. My fire burned out as quickly as it had started and I was left feeling somewhat empty.

"Maya, you have to know that I'll keep in contact; we live in the 21st century. There's no reason we can't talk every-day." I grabbed my sister's hands in my own.

"I know you're both worried about me and the choices that I'm making, but I can guarantee you that I'm doing what's best for me right now."

I looked at my mom and sister, expecting more arguments, but they were both strangely silent.

"If this is what you want Lia, we won't stop you," my mother said on a whisper.

Warm tears sprung to my eyes as they both hugged me between them, each of them squeezing for all they were worth. I loved my family dearly, but too many negative things had happened for me to continue living the same way here in North Carolina. Einstein had said it was madness to keep doing the same things while expecting different results. Life hadn't gone as I had planned, and I was more than ready to try something new to get those different results. I just hoped that I was really doing the right thing.