A NEW LIFE

GENETATED USING META AI

I stood behind the window as I watched the rain drizzle. It was a beautiful morning, but today felt like goodbye. I took the time to observe my surroundings, the place I had grown accustomed to for five years now. The big supermarket, across the streets, was as busy as usual with people trooping in and out. Despite the rain, this supermarket never seemed to be less busy.

I smiled as I watched madam Iyaho my next door neighbor washing her car while singing and dancing to her morning youruba song . I looked at the small eatery opposite my apartment. That place had fed me in times where I was too tired or busy to cook. I’ve had a lot of fond memories there. Especially with my friend Kacey and Jordan. Whenever I wanted to treat them specially I would take them to the small eatery, and we would laugh, gist take picture and eat untill we were full. Mr Wong, the owner of the restaurant was I deed a talented cook or chef as he insisted to be called.

A small smile frames my lips as I thought back to the old times.

The ringing of my phone snapped me out of my thoughts, I picked up the phone on the fourth ring, answering the call from Kacie, my best friend.

“Are you ready? I'm almost there with the Uber” she informed me

“Yes, I’m all packed up,” I answered.

I dropped the phone back on the table and picked up the hot cup of coffee I had made about thirty minutes ago and kept on the kitchen counter to cool off. As I sipped on the small liquid, the comforting taste and scents filled my senses, reminding me of what I am about to leave behind. This apartment, my comfort. It had comforted me in days where I felt pain all through, it had watched me struggle with life, my business and been my sole companion in times when I was lonely and had no one. This apartment had slowly grown under my skin.

As I looked at it, it was now empty and devoid of all furniture, properties, electronics and appliances. It looked like a mere space, a room with four walls around it. But my heart had taken an attachment to this so-called space. Five years was indeed a long time to grow attached to a place. So my feelings weren't entirely absurd. I had grown attached to this apartment, this neighborhood.

The truth is that they are a huge part of my rising, my beginning. Every design I made was first drafted out here. It was there with me on days I had sleepless nights, trying to finish a dress. In my breaking point all I had was this little comfort of a space. This apartment had seen all sides of me. The hopeless dreamer, crazy fashion lover, the determined entrepreneur, the heart broken woman, it had seen all sides.

It had also experienced my emotional rollercoaster of a love story, — Jordan

Jordan believed in me, he believed in my dream or so I thought. He had spent several nights in this apartment, calling it ours. He talked about the future with fondness, our future, he decorated this place to include him in it. Hung crazy pictures and ridiculous paintings on the wall. He held me in days when I felt like giving up, urging me to continue.

But who knew love could be a scam. I took a sip from the cup, remembering the first time we met. He walked into my shop, needing me to amend a suit jacket, and slowly, one amendment turned into dinner and then several dates. He was charming, a gentle man with a good sense of humor. He whisked his way into my life and before I knew it , he became a big part of it.

But one day, everything came to an end, I discovered the truth, he had a wife and two kids I didn't know about. It felt like a punch in the chest. I simply returned back his ring, and the promises of the future he offered and ended things even if it broke me. That happened one year ago.

Now here I was, packing the last of my belongings, my business had finally pushed to greater heights. Me and my best friend Kacie, my partner in crime, were moving to a bigger apartment in Vegas. The lease was about to expire anyway and my boutique was opening anytime soon.

A knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts. Kacia walked in, a smile framing her face

“You ready” she asked

I turned and took a good look at the empty room once again.

“You know I thought I would feel more sad about leaving” I said after a moment of silence

“ That's because this is already a closed chapter in your life. It's time to turn the page” Kacia answered, knowing me so well.

I nodded my head “I'm ready”

We walked outside the apartment, and I put my suitcase in the back of the car and took one final glance at my apartment and neighborhood out of acknowledgement. This place had given me a beginning, and had shown me the woman I could be, someone who could rise again after the storm, a woman that could keep going no matter what and find healing.

As the car pulled away, messages came in from my phone, an investor confirming the time for the meeting, another one from my landlord asking if I left the keys. Customers confirming orders.

I smiled, a new life was already calling on me.