Episode: 7 Crossing Oceans
687 Words
"The hardest decisions aren't the ones that change your future. They're the ones that ask you to leave your past behind."
"Come to Los Angeles."
I forgot how to breathe.
The words echoed through my apartment long after Dominic had stopped speaking.
Surely...
He couldn't be serious.
I laughed nervously.
"You do realize we've never met?"
"I do."
"And you're asking me to move across the world?"
"I'm asking if you'd consider it."
I sank onto the couch, my legs suddenly too weak to hold me.
"Dominic..."
"I know how it sounds."
"No..."
I whispered.
"I don't think you do."
Silence settled between us.
Outside, rain began tapping softly against my apartment window.
"Iddie."
His voice was as calm as ever.
"If your answer is no..."
"...I'll respect it."
There it was again.
No pressure.
No guilt.
Just...
A choice.
"I'd never ask you to do something you don't want."
I closed my eyes.
That somehow made the decision even harder.
That night, I barely slept.
Every possible outcome played over and over in my head.
What if he's lying?
What if this is a mistake?
What if I regret staying even more than I regret leaving?
By sunrise...
I was no closer to an answer.
The next afternoon, I met Lindiwe at our favorite coffee shop just off campus.
She took one look at me and frowned.
"You look terrible."
"Thank you."
"I mean it."
She stirred sugar into her coffee.
"What happened?"
I wrapped both hands around my mug, letting the warmth settle my nerves.
"Dominic asked me something."
Her eyes narrowed immediately.
"What?"
I looked down.
"He wants me to move to Los Angeles."
The spoon slipped from her fingers, clinking loudly against the saucer.
"...I'm sorry."
"What?"
"I thought you said Los Angeles."
"I did."
She stared at me for several seconds.
Then leaned back in her chair.
"So..."
"...have you completely lost your mind?"
"I haven't said yes."
"You haven't said no either."
"No."
She sighed deeply.
"Iddie..."
Her voice softened.
"I know he makes you happy."
I smiled faintly.
"He does."
"I know he listens."
I nodded.
"He does."
"And I know you've been happier these last few months than I've seen you in a long time."
Another nod.
"But..."
She reached across the table.
"...you've never met him."
I looked away.
"I know."
"You've never even been to America."
"I know."
"You'd be leaving your family."
"I know."
Every sentence felt heavier than the last.
Lindiwe squeezed my hand gently.
"I'm not trying to stop you."
"I'm trying to protect you."
A lump formed in my throat.
"I know."
She smiled sadly.
"And that's exactly why you're considering it."
I frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"You've spent your whole life taking the safe road."
I blinked.
"University."
"Studying."
"Doing everything you're supposed to do."
She tilted her head.
"For the first time..."
"...someone is asking what you want."
I didn't answer.
Because I wasn't sure I'd ever asked myself that question before.
That evening, my mother called.
We spoke about ordinary things.
University.
The weather.
My younger cousin who'd somehow managed to fail his driving test for the third time.
I laughed.
She laughed.
Everything felt normal.
Until...
"Iddie?"
"Yes, Mama?"
"Are you happy?"
The question caught me completely off guard.
"I..."
She waited patiently.
"You've sounded different lately."
I swallowed.
"Different how?"
"Lighter."
I smiled to myself.
"I don't know."
"I think..."
"...I finally have something to look forward to."
There was a long silence.
Then my mother spoke so softly I almost didn't hear her.
"Whatever that something is..."
"...don't let fear make the decision for you."
Later that night, my phone lit up.
Dominic: Have you thought about it?
I stared at the message for a long time.
Then, with trembling fingers, I typed four words.
Me: Can we talk tomorrow?
His reply came almost immediately.
Dominic: Of course.
No pressure.
No insistence.
Just patience.
For reasons I couldn't explain...
That made my heart ache.
Because the more I got to know Dominic...
The harder it became to imagine a future that didn't include him.
- Writer
