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"Mat, you can let go now," I laughed, pulling away from my older brothers embrace.

Just to be clear, Mat is 13 minutes older than me, but he loves to milk that one, always referring to himself as my "big bro" and whatnot. Don't get me wrong, the whole protective big brother thing is nice, but being Barzy's baby sister can get annoying. I have a love hate relationship with my social status, for sure.

"First I lose Johnny, now you're leaving me, Celia I'm gonna be sooo lonely without you here," Mat whined.

"I know Mat, but I'll come back and see you when we travel to the island, and when you come to Toronto I'll see you then, too." I tried to reason.

"Do you have to go?" He asked giving the saddest puppy dog eyes ever.

"I wish I could stay, but you know that I have to take this job, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity," I explained for the millionth time.

"I'm gonna miss you a lot C," He pouted pulling me back into the biggest bear hug ever.

His pull knocked me completely off balance, we shared a laugh as he held me up when I tried to regain my footing. I hugged my brother tight for the last time before I'd see him again in a few months.

Mat and I have practically been attached since birth, when he got drafted to the Islanders, I got accepted into Columbia University's athletic training and sports medicine program. Since we both had absolutely no experience in New York, we decided we would get an apartment exactly halfway between Barclay's Center where he plays, and my campus, that way we could figure out the city together. After 2 years of living in the city, I still can't navigate the subway system for my life, let's just say I'm a very big fan of Uber.

At the end of the semester, I was offered a paid internship with Paul Ayotte, the head trainer for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The team is paying for my housing and I'm being paid to have my dream career. So it didn't come as a surprise to anyone when I immediately accepted. So here I am, 21 years old, moving to Toronto by myself, adulting and what not.

"Maty I gotta go or I'm gonna miss my flight," I said pulling away from his hug and collecting my luggage.

"Bye Celia, call me when you land safely."

"I will! I'll let you know the second we land," I said with a smile, turning and heading towards the entrance to JFK airport.

"I love you Cece," Mat shouted before I disappeared into the busy airport.

"Love you," I smiled at my sad brother standing on the curb.

————

Even thought the flight to Toronto is only like 2 hours long, I still slept the whole time. I'm the type of person who can fall asleep literally anytime, anywhere. I was out cold before we even took off, proving my point.

We touched down in Toronto and I texted in my family group chat:

Cecelia:
landed in toronto safely!

Mama💘:
Yay! So proud of you
baby! Lmk when you're
at your apartment!

Dad:
I'm glad you're safe
Love you.

Big Brotha Barzy:
awesome! miss u already kiddo

Cecelia:
enough w the kiddo omg
you seem to forget that
you're only 13 mins older

Big Brotha Barzy:
best 13 mins of my life

Mama💘:
Enough! I love you both.

————

Since Mat and I lived together in New York, I grew pretty close to most of the Isles guys, and thank god I had one of them here with me to show me around Toronto. The one and only, Johnny Toronto. Mat is still mad at him for leaving but JT and I have always been buds.

I walk towards baggage claim and there he is. John is standing there with a sign that says "Miss. Cecelia Barzal". I make eye contact with him and he gives me a big smile as I walk over and give him a big hug.

"Celiaaaaa!!!!" He says as he wraps his arm around me.

"John! Oh my god it's so nice to see a familiar face!" I say relieved hugging him back.

We end the hug and wait for my luggage to come around the belt. Once it does, we decide to go get some food after my travels and before he helps move me into my new place. We decide on a Canadian classic. Tim Hortons. Just grabbing coffees and donuts, it's a quick trip.

We arrive at my new apartment, not far from Tim Hortons, in downtown Toronto. We walk into the building and it's beautiful, the lobby has a concierge and everything. I check my text from Paul, and see that he told me my apartment is on the 11th floor, which was the top floor. John and I pack into the elevator with all of my belongings and he hits the eleven button. Going up. We walk the eleventh floor until we find number 16, which is at the end of the hallway. I unlock the door to apartment 1116 and my jaw drops.

"Holy. Shit." Is all I can manage to say.

John laughs and replies, "Yeah, management set you up Celia."

I settle in and we start unpacking my things. John has to leave for a meeting with management to discuss something about his contract, so I was left alone. My apartment was so nice I couldn't believe it, it's an open plan where the kitchen, dining room, and living room are connected, then off to the left is the master bedroom with a huge closet and gorgeous bathroom, and a smaller guest bedroom with a mediocre bathroom is off to the left side. I then decide to check out the balcony. I open the sliding glass door and the Toronto air hits me. I take a deep breath, and really try to take it all in. The view of the city was incredible, it reminded me of New York with Mat. It felt like home.