Something about you

One: How it all started.

At the age of twenty-four, one would expect me to have my life together, but truth be told, I still have moments where I question my purpose. Occasional bouts of anxiety arise as I ponder the unknowns of the future. I couldn't even tell you where I see myself five years from now because I genuinely have no clue.

I lack the answers, and honestly, there are times when I'm not even sure I want to know them. As I pack up my belongings, preparing for the most significant change in my life, a small part of me wonders if I'm truly ready for it all. Am I prepared to leave the uninspiring town I've called home since birth? Can I truly leave behind my friends and family as my boyfriend and I embark on a journey to New York City, one of the busiest and most bustling places in the world, to make it our new home?

Yes. Yes, I am.

I recognize that I'm taking a risk by uprooting my entire life to live in a place I've never even visited. Yet, I need to experience it firsthand before I can determine if it was a good or bad idea. Besides, I've played it safe for far too long; taking a leap of faith feels exhilarating. Growing up, I never had the luxury of being risky.

My parents were strict, accepting no nonsense from me. They held high expectations, particularly my mother. If I desired something, I had to work for it because my parents' mantra was, "Nothing in this world is free, Katherine. Handouts don't exist. If you want something, you'll have to earn it, baby."

So I did, but unfortunately, it made me an outsider among my peers. Fitting in was never my forte. I wasn't one for parties, and I lacked the courage to experiment with drugs. Instead, I was the good, obedient girl who followed every rule my parents set for me. Whether I liked them or not, I did what was necessary to make them proud.

As their firstborn, I couldn't bring them any shame. They ensured that I wouldn't. Therefore, I knew I had to make something of myself. And I did. By the age of twenty-one, I had moved out of my parents' house and was living independently. I had my own car and paid my own bills. I epitomized independence.

Despite the tough love they bestowed upon me, I owe them my gratitude because, without their upbringing, I wouldn't be the determined, self-sufficient woman I am today.

But enough of dwelling on the past. I can no longer live solely to please them. It has taken me far too long to realize that I need to start living for myself. I spent so much of my life trying to make them happy that I forgot to prioritize my own happiness along the way.

Now, I see the bigger picture. It's finally my turn to be happy. It's my chance to live life on my terms. The first step towards becoming a better version of myself is to escape my monotonous, uninteresting, and painfully small hometown.

"I can't believe we're actually doing this right now,"

David; my boyfriend whom I affectionately call Dave, expresses his excitement as we pack our belongings into boxes. Observing his enthusiasm, I realize how crucial his presence has been over the past two years. Honestly, I don't think I could have managed all of this without his unwavering support. "It's unbelievable," he exclaims.

"Yeah, no kidding," I glance at him briefly, offering a smile. "I can't wait to leave this town behind. I'm eager to explore new possibilities, embrace change. Honestly, Dave, I have a gut feeling that this move is going to be amazing."

This relocation wasn't a spontaneous decision. I've spent considerable time contemplating it, and a few months ago, I finally broached the subject with Dave. Initially, I wasn't as serious as I am now, but it was after confiding in my best friend, Madison, that I truly recognized my desire for this move.

Madison is like a sister to me, so her input was invaluable. She's known for being straightforward, and that's exactly what I needed. I wanted assurance that this move wasn't a colossal mistake. Trusting her completely, I knew she would provide honest advice, devoid of any comforting lies. Our bond, formed since elementary school, is unbreakable, and I was confident that she would keep it real with me.

"How many more boxes do we have left? I think we're running out, and I still have a ton of stuff here that needs packing," I wipe the sweat from my forehead, placing my hands on my hips. Standing tall and awkward, I can't help but find Dave cute, despite it all. "Damn, I'm exhausted."

I chuckle, understanding his fatigue. We've been packing our belongings for the past two days, preparing for our big move. On any other day, I would have finished everything by now. I know I should be in a rush, but at the same time, I'm not.

Although I'm eager to leave this town, I'm not in a rush to bid it a permanent farewell. Saying goodbye to my family and friends forever isn't something I'm quite ready for. When I eventually depart, I won't be returning here. It's a final goodbye.

"There should be more boxes in the garage," I reply to Dave. "This would be less strenuous if Mady bothered to lend a hand, as she promised."

"You should've known she'd bail on us," Dave scoffs. "Madison and manual labor don't mix. We all know that."

"Come on, don't be such a jerk," I roll my eyes at him. "You know how she can be."

He laughs, walking over to me and planting a quick kiss on my forehead. His voice sends shivers down my spine, and when I gaze into his bright brown eyes, my heart melts. Despite the time we've spent together, he still manages to give me butterflies. "So, when do we start getting ready for tonight?"

"Well, Madison said we should be ready around nine, so we better have everything sorted by eight or eight-thirty at the latest," I respond. "I don't know where she's taking us. All she said is that it's on the other side of town."

"Hmm, should be fun, I guess," Dave mutters, wrapping his arms around my waist. I raise mine and encircle them around his neck, standing on my tiptoes as I lean in for a kiss. "Don't start something you don't plan on finishing, Mademoiselle."

"Just so you know, I don't take kindly to threats, Sir," I smirk at him, pulling back before we end up getting intimate on our messy living room floor. "Alright, let's get back to work."

"We'd finish faster if your bestie showed up," Dave sarcastically remarks.

Ignoring his comment, knowing he means well, I think about Madison and Dave's love-hate relationship. They argue like siblings but can also have a lot of fun together. People in town have always seen Madison as an idle, ditzy blonde, but they don't know her like I do.

She's much more than that.

But because people judge her based on stereotypes, they fail to see what a wonderful person she is. Madison is selfless, outgoing, funny, and always wears a smile, even though people talk about her negatively. She may have grown up in a wealthy family, inviting judgment from others. However, the misconception that she lives off her parents' money couldn't be further from the truth. People don't realize how independent she is, owning her own fashion house and clothing line and having earned degrees to prove her capability.

She creates her own income and relies on no one else. Whenever I share this information with those who speak ill of her, their faces light up in disbelief, shocked that she—a woman, a blonde—can successfully run a business on her own.

Stereotypes make me sick.

Having a "rich" friend isn't any different from being friends with someone less fortunate. It's all

about personalities, not the size of their bank account.

Although I'm humble about it, there's one thing I envy about my best friend—she has her life together. She's currently living her dream, while I'm just now pursuing mine.

It's a damn shame, and I'm the first to admit it.

During college, I lied to my parents about my chosen profession. I told them I was going to study medicine when I received a full scholarship to the University of Vernon. They didn't care about my major or what I studied; they were just thrilled that their little girl got into one of the best colleges in the state.

It's amusing now when I talk to them over the phone, as they always ask about how things are going at the "clinic" where they think I was an intern. I might be a horrible person for deceiving them, making them believe I was studying medicine, but at the time, I had no other choice. I couldn't reveal what I was truly studying.

In reality, the only people who know the truth about my life and profession are my younger sister Lily, Dave, Madison, and my other best friend Lucas.

Unknown to my gullible parents, I pursued computer science in college. I'm a programmer. Technology has always fascinated me, but my parents couldn't care less about it. They're old-fashioned and fail to see the appeal of computers and such.

They consider my profession "uninteresting" or a "waste of time," which is why I haven't told them yet. They wouldn't appreciate the hard work I put into earning my bachelor's degree or that I get paid to create websites for prestigious companies. They're old and can't grasp why I love what I do.

But it doesn't matter. I won't let their discouragement affect me. My future is looking bright, almost blindingly so. Major things are about to happen, and significant changes—figuratively speaking—are on the horizon. I haven't even told Dave yet, as I want it to be a surprise tonight. The main reason I chose to move to New York, of all places, is that one of the world's largest companies wants to hire me!

Talk about a life-changing event, right?

Since I brought up the idea of moving to Dave, and once he agreed, we've been busy searching for a home and job opportunities. A couple of weeks ago, we found a nice, affordable house in a respectable area of New York. Simultaneously, I landed an interview at Alliance Enterprises, while Dave, currently a dental assistant, is in the process of being hired by Jerome's Dentistry in New York. Things couldn't be going any better for us.

The good news keeps flowing.

About a week after submitting my resume and portfolio to the appropriate department at Alliance Enterprises, I received a call from someone who said I had exactly what they were looking for. They want to bring me in for an official interview as soon as I arrive in New York.

Now, all I need to do is finish packing, bid farewell to my family and friends, hop on a plane with Dave, and prepare to embark on my new life in the most dream fulfilling city in the world.