Dahlia

As Dahlia walked through the crowd of people outside her dorm room, she heard a million conversations. “Oddly enough” she said into the phone, “I think I’m going to miss this chaos. The voice on the other end chuckled. “Have you told anyone yet” he asked. “No, but I’ll tell them eventually.” “It’s not like Ma is gonna care anyway.” “She’s probably too busy with John, Paul, George or Stanley to even care.” “I’ll see you in a minute.” She hung up the phone and took one last glance back at her old dorm room and smiled. So many friends were made there, so many memories. She was going to miss the dorm life, but she knew that she was ready for her new adventure. She was ready for this new chapter of her life. As she walked towards the gate she spotted her best friend.  “Tania!” “What are you doing here?” She asked excitedly. She ran to her and wrapped her in a long embrace. “You know I had to come back and say bye to my bestie!” She took one of Dahlia’s bags from her. “Hey Dee, I’m really gonna miss you girl.” Dahlia smiled. “It’s not like we’re never gonna see each other again.” “You know you can come and visit me anytime.” “I know” Tania said. “But it still won’t be the same without you.” The two of them walked in silence for a couple of moments. They walked down “the stroll” as it was dubbed by the incoming freshman because it was a path that lead to every dorm room on campus and it was where most of the action happened.   Since Spring was approaching, the stroll was packed. There was something about April in New York City. The whole campus seemed to be on the stroll that late afternoon.There was almost no room to walk. Dahlia and Tania weaved their way through the crowds of college students headed back to the rooms after a long day of classes. She was reminded of all of the times that she and Tania walked down this path fussing about classes or some inconvenience on campus. As they approached the gate they were greeted by two Tahoe trucks, one black and one blue.  “Well,” Dahlia said. “I guess this is it lovebug.” “I guess so.” Tania said. Tears began to form in Dahlia’s eyes. “I love you Tee” she said sniffling. “I love you too Dee” Tania said. They hugged for a couple moments and then let go. Antonio got out of his truck and headed towards the girls. “I’m glad she made it.” “She was afraid she was going to miss you.” Tony said, his words dripping with a heavy “Newyorican” accent. He pulled Dahlia into an embrace. She hugged him back and then waved at Tania and went around the other side of the car to the passenger door of the black Tahoe. She had to get away or she would burst into tears. At the same time Dahlia was getting in the car, her fiancé Cortez was getting out of the car to greet Tony and Tania and put the rest of Dahlia’s bags in the back of the truck. As she sat in the passenger seat of the car, Dahlia reminisced about the first time she met Tania. Dahlia was exhausted after lugging all of her belongings up to her room on the 6th floor of Madison Hall. She sat down on one of her larger suite cases to rest for a few moments. As she sat in front of the door a girl and her parents were exiting the room. “Tania,” The lady began, “If you need anything at all don’t hesitate to call us.” The woman looked as if she were going to break down at any moment. Dahlia looked down at the paper the school had sent her with her roommate’s name and information. “Tania Stewart” she thought, so this is my new roommate. “Mom, I’ll be fine.” The girl said, not noticing Dahlia sitting there. “Tania, be good.” “You know what your purpose for being here is and you need to fulfill it.” Barked the father. “I don’t wanna hear about no little raggedy basta— Tania cut him off before he could say another word. “Daddy, you know I am focused on my grades.” “I don’t need any distractions.” “But have fun Tania.” Her mother retorted. “You only get to be a freshman in college once.” “Find your balance.” Tania kissed her parents on the cheeks and waved them off. As she watched them go toward the elevator she finally noticed Dahlia sitting there surrounded by her luggage. “I’m so sorry I didn’t notice you.” She said to Dahlia. “My name is Tania Stewart.” Dahlia smiled, “Nice to meet you Tania, I’m Dahlia Dennis, your new roommate.”  The two girls instantly hit it off and became fast friends. When they weren’t in class, Dahlia and Tania spent almost every moment together shopping or just exploring the city. Tania was from Brooklyn and she served as Dahlia’s tour guide. What she wouldn’t admit though was that she knew as much about Manhattan as Dahlia did. Tania never came into the city. She was strictly a Brooklyn girl. Tania and Dahlia became super close over the first few months of school. Dahia’s home life was less than perfect. In fact it was less than good. It was downright terrible. Tania noticed this as time went on and started inviting Dahlia to go home with her when she went to visit her parents. The girls became so close that for holidays, instead of Dahlia going home to Virginia, she would just stay with the Stewarts. Of course Dahlia returned home for Christmas for a couple of weeks, but stayed the remainder of the vacation at Tania’s house. Tania had even visited Virginia with Dahlia a few times. But now after three and a half long years the two of them were going their separate ways. Tania was moving to the Bronx with her boyfriend Antonio. Dahlia chuckled and thought about the nickname that she and Tania had given Tony before he and Tania had become an official couple. “The biggest distraction.” Dahlia’s eyes filled with tears at the thought of Tania being so far away. It didn’t matter to her that she could pick up the phone and call her friend at any time of the day. It just wasn’t the same as being able to barge into her bedroom at 3 in the morning to rant about the fight she had with her mother or swoon about the wonderful evening she had with Cortez. This was a tough but necessary break for Dahlia and as she had been telling herself for months, the beginning of a new chapter.