Before You

Chapter 3

"Finally!" I groan out loud. The trip from Savannah to Atlanta was nice. The weather has been perfect all day. I took my time driving, taking in all of my surroundings, and listening to my favorite music. Even though the drive was good, I'm so ready to be out of this car. Another left turn and I'll be at my new apartment building.

Peachtree Apartments is pretty much like the photos I've seen online. There's a black iron gate and call box right as you pull into the parking lot. On the other side of the gate, about 200 feet away is the first set of apartment buildings. Each building is it's own shade of neutral colors. The landscaping has been kept up and looks very lush. It doesn't come with very many amenities, but the small in ground pool and close distance to the college sealed the deal.

I park my car at the front entrance and go inside the clubhouse to get any new information I need, along with my apartment keys. As I enter the clubhouse, a short elderly woman quickly greets me. She has short hair that holds a combination of dark brown and gray. The glasses perched on her nose seem to be too small. Her forehead and cheeks hold fine lines that make her appear overly tired.

"Hello, dear. My name is Anne. Can I help you?" she said.

"Uh, yes. My name is Evy Turner. I've been speaking with you for a few months now. I'm here to pick up my apartments keys."

"Of course, dear. Let me get your keys and I'll show you around the grounds", she said.

After about 30 minutes of walking around the grounds, I've seen everything. Anne showed me the rest of the clubhouse, including the pool that's located behind it. As we walked she told me rules regarding the pool, parking, garbage disposal, and the call box. It all sounded pretty simple. Don't break anything, take care of your garbage, and keep your apartment clean, put simply.

We finally make it to my apartment building, which is labeled "D". The outside is light brown and has three stories. I'm so glad I decided to be put on a waitlist for a bottom apartment. I would hate to climb those steps every single day, especially, with a book bag full of heavy books. Anne guides me to the first door on the right. The door is a bright white with golden text on the front, D-3. Anne opens the door and allows me to go in first. The walls are light beige with white trim. The carpet is a sandy color and looks brand new. It's a lot smaller than I thought it would be, but I guess that's what you get with studio-sized apartment. I look around the living room to find a small sofa, a chair, small coffee table, and small stand holding a television, very cramped together. The sofa has somewhat golden cushions and looks like it could have been purchased in the 80's. Even still, the furniture looks like it's in decent shape. I don't have money to furnish an apartment on my own, so I can't be picky. A few feet away is a tiny kitchen with a two-person table and chairs. As I walk through the kitchen, I find a small, square room holding a full size bed. There's literally no space in the room for any extras. I continue the tour to find a small bathroom and closet. I don't know how I'm going to fit all of my clothes and shoes in this closet, but I guess I'll have to make it work.

"I know it's small", Anne says. "This is our smallest floor plan and everyone always seems shocked when they see it in person. I'm sure you'll adjust just fine. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to call me. Also, please be careful going around Atlanta. Make sure you're not alone after dark. It's a big city and it's full of crazies."

"Uh, yeah, of course. I'll be careful. Thank you for showing me around the grounds. It was nice meeting you", I say.

With that, Anne walks out the front door waving and leaves me to sort my thoughts. The apartment isn't what I was expecting, but it is mine. I can make it work. Hopefully, I won't be spending much time here anyway. I have classes during the week and when I'm not in class, I'll be exploring Atlanta and photographing. At least I hope I have time to explore. I have to find a job and pretty quickly. I started babysitting when I was thirteen. My mom was adamant that I save all of my money, so I did. I had enough money to get into this apartment and to cover my spending for a couple of months but that's it. All of my college expenses are being paid mostly by student loans and some help from my grandmother. She had been saving as much money as she could over the years for my college degree. When she passed, the money was given to me. My mother was more than pleased for me to get the money. We both agreed I would use it for college. As for the rest, it's all on me. I'm okay with that. I'll do what I need to do to succeed. Whatever it takes, I'll make it happen. I'm on my own and can only depend on myself.