Take the Opportunity

                                                   The Story of Us

“Have you ever thought to yourself, “’how did I get so lucky?’” – Casey Whitley

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I brushed my long dark blonde hair as I planned my events for the day.  My flight flew out at seven in the morning and I would land in Mullingar at six thirty at night.  I still couldn’t believe I was recently accepted into Mullingar University.  I checked the clock; twelve o’clock in the morning.  I was cold; I always was in the early morning.  The moon was bright and illuminating.  I lifted my robe off as I walked to my dresser, hugging myself tightly.  Opening my panties and bra drawer, my phone lit up; another text from my ex-boyfriend, David.  

Hey Casey, good luck! Have a great time in Mullingar this year babe!  Love you lots!! “Hope for the best, expect the worst.” XOXO –David

My phone buzzes again, initiating a new text message.  This one’s from my mother.

I love you so much baby girl, you’ve brought me such joy and happiness for the past 18 years.  Have a great first day in Mullingar.  Call me later! xx –Mommy

My mom always made me choke up at the slightest things.  I wipe the newly formed tears from my eyes and respond to her.  Even though she’s only downstairs, I respond to her.

I love you too, Mommy.  You made me the person I am today! :)   I can’t believe that the day has come so fast!  Tell the Grandma and Grandpa’s that I love them! Xoxo – Casey

I run to the bathroom as quickly as possible to grab a tissue.  I blow my nose and wiped the tears away.  I laugh at myself.  I was such an awkward person.  I’m only leaving until December.  Then, I can come home and celebrate Christmas. 

My life has always been an emotional rollercoaster, whether it was a dramatic day at school or laughing hysterical laughing at twelve o’clock in the morning.  It never stops.  I dated David when I was twelve and ever since then, we’ve been the best of friends.  He came out when we were fourteen, but that never stopped us from loving each other like brother and sister. 

I walk back into my room, still naked.  A cold burst of air blew through my room as I dropped my arms.  I would miss feeling this free and alive.  When I got into university, I wouldn’t be able to walk around naked.  I looked through my drawer of panties and bras and settled on the matching lace bra and panties. 

I walked over to the bathroom again and placed both of them on the counter.  My body is shaking as I turn on the shower.  I step in and the lukewarm water hits my back.  I turn around and let the water envelop me before grabbing the shampoo.  I squirt a little bit into my hands before lathering it into my hair.  I repeat the same process with my conditioner.  After that, I shave and wash my face.  I step out of the shower and grab a towel out of the closet, immediately wrapping it around me to soap up the bubbles.  I look up to meet a set of light blue eyes.  My eyes have always been my best feature.  I remember that being the only compliment I would actually acknowledge.  I smile at myself before it quickly fades.  I have to get started on my packing.  I drop my towel into the hamper and clip my bra around me, pulling up the left strap, then the right.  I step into my panties and pull them up. 

I smile proudly at myself in the mirror because I’m finally at a healthy weight; one hundred and twenty pounds.  Walking out of the bathroom, I start to laugh at myself.  I seem so grown up for eighteen.  I pull on my old t-shirt from park recreation and some sweatpants.  I walk over to my closet and pull out a duffel bag and suitcase. 

I’ve never been organized, so there’s no way I’ll be packing neatly.   I hoard every imaginable thing into my suitcase; shirts, pants, shoes, perfume, and accessories before I question if the zipper will zip.  Next on my to do list is the duffel bag.  I’m on a search for hairspray, makeup bag, and ponytails.  I finally find the hairspray in the back of my bathroom cabinet and the makeup bag on my closet’s shelf, the ponytails enclosed in.

I cannot believe that it’s already two o’clock in the morning.  My head is spinning in too many directions to count.  It’s like I’m going away forever.  Everything seems to be happening too fast.  My eyes widen at the thought of being in university.  I don’t want to leave this town; I’ve made so many amazing memories here.  It’s hard to think about even being gone for a month, let alone three.  I can’t turn back now, if I do, it will only cause myself to lose an amazing opportunity.  What if I don’t go?  What’s if I stay here in Rockaway?

But then I snap myself out of these messed up thoughts, but they only seem to get worse.  I’ve been sleeping on a nocturnal sleep schedule for two days now, but I’m still immensely tired.  I decide to try and take a cat nap before I have to drive to the airport in an hour.   I lie down on my bed, thinking of all the amazing nights of sleep I’ve had on this bed.

It’s still hard for me to sleep with all the thoughts running through my mind.  I roll over to find myself face first on the floor, breathing in the carpet. 

I hear my phone ringing.  I pick myself up off the floor and take my phone into my hands.  It’s Kate, my best friend.  She’s nervous as well.  She got accepted into Manchester University, which is somewhat relatively near me.  I giggle to myself knowing she’s probably freaking out like I am.  I slide the little green answer button to the right, initiating the call. 

Oh my god, Casey.  Thank the good lord you’re up!  I’m flipping my lid all around my room right now trying to get everything situated.  I’m nervous, what if the professors don’t like me or god forbid, THE PLANE CRASHES! Oh my god! OH MY GOD. PLEASE HELP ME.

CALM DOWN KATE!  You’ll be fine, we will be fine. I promise you.  It’s hard to accept now, but I think we’ll be okay.  After all, we were born Irish and British. 

We talk for a few more minutes about Ireland and the United Kingdom.  We also happen to mention where the other classmates are going.  Ariana was accepted into Pennsylvania University, while Jenny went into beauty school, Nick is going into the minor league NFL, and Jenna and Julia are going to Harvard.  It seems all too crazy for us to be the graduated class.  It seemed like yesterday we were all young an obsessed with a boy band or laughing at teachers because they said a word funny.  Never once did we think WE’D become the next boy band or teacher.  I start to choke up again as another cold burst of air breezes through my room.  I decide to sit outside for a bit before leaving, just get some fresh air.  I walk outside on my balcony.  The overlook of the city is just magnificent up here.  You can tell just how Rockaway is from here.  The lights are bright and it seems like it’s a busy city, but in all reality, it’s empty.  No one walks around or yells; everything just kind of seems at piece.  It’s cold outside, but the breeze through the air is warm and humid, so I go back inside to grab a blanket.  I lay it out on my balcony and look up at the stars, trying hard not the cliché.  But that idea inevitably fails as I start to think of an old story my grandmother used to tell me about each one of them being a human spirit.  A chill runs down my body at the realization of it.  My true love's star could be up there, in the night sky. 

I was always one of those people to think about being married.  I had my wedding already picked out from the colors to the font.  I imagined a big, catholic wedding with diamonds and sparkles.  I just hoped one day, it would happen, that I’d be the bride.  I was too young to find true love, though.  It just seemed like something that would never happen.