The Art of Starting Over

The Start of A New Chapter

It’s been a few weeks now my face is back to normal but my ribs are still healing, I did have to miss my 21st birthday because I still looked a bit rough but my parents gave me a small celebration with Nadia, I’m still not ready to tell other people but today is my first day back to work. I’m excited to be at my desk again creating websites and doing graphic designs in my beautiful office over looking Times Square. Nadia and a couple other friends are going to be meeting me for lunch so I’m excited for that as well it’s been so long since I’ve seen my friends. Hmmm what to wear I ponder searching through my closet. I’ve been staying in my parents townhouse, where I grew up. They don’t usually stay here, they have another home near the art district, but I haven’t wanted to be alone, I know that Ritchie is in jail but I’ve still been having horrible nightmares that I wake up to his hand around my mouth, trying to take me away. The noises of the city are different than the country, I’ve missed it here. There’s just something about this city that never sleeps. Most people would find it too distracting but to me it’s calming especially after being so holed up for a long time seeing and hearing everyone laughing and enjoying their lives has been making me happy. I’ve decided to show off some skin now that I can I go with a white strapless bodysuit and olive colored high waisted flare pants with some olive heels. Oh the feeling of being able to wear whatever I want without being called an attention seeking w***e. I straighten my hair and wear it down with some light makeup, oh yeah and I cut my hair it now lays down to just under my shoulder blades SO much easier to manage and SO much lighter. I look at my green eyes in the mirror and smile as I watch the life and brightness coming over them. “Bye mom, bye dads!” I yell heading out the door I get back bye’s and I love you’s before I lock and shut it. The walk to work is much better than the 4 hour drive I used to have to get up at 6 am to make. It’s just so amazing the feeling of being able to smile at who I want to and walk down the street by myself I stop to get a bagel from down the street.

As I walk into work I get a tight hug from my boss Gina. “Oh my God Sevyn I’ve missed you around here like soooo much, no one else just gets me.. yanno?” She says her blue eyes sparkling I smile and hug her back. “I know I missed you too.” She pulls back and hugs me again “Ohhh Sevyn ugh I’m just so sorry.” I didn’t get too deep into it with her but I told her the jist and that I lost the baby. Gina and I have been close since High School and when she got offered a job in her father’s business overseeing a big website she instantly thought of me and wanted to bring me on board. She’s known I’ve been interested in coding since basically myspace and she knows I could do this stuff in my sleep. “It’s okay I’m okay.” She pulls away and looks at me still holding my arms. I look at her sincerely. “Honest.” I swear and I have been okay, some light ptsd and nightmares but that’s to be expected. “I started therapy and I’m working through it.” She nods “If you need anything, AN-Y-TH-ING, you come to me.” I smile and hug her again. “You coming to lunch with the gang?” I ask as we walk to my office. She bites her lip and looks down shyly. “Okay don’t hate me buuuuttt I have a date!” She exclaims I grin “As if I would be mad so tell me the details.” She tells me about him as I load up my computer and start getting to work. I multitask listening enthusiastically and fixing some coding errors everyones made in my absence. “So tell me.” She says I look up at her. “I know, I know its a bit early but have you thought about I don’t know getting back out there.” I actually haven’t my single life has been so nice I don’t think I’m ready yet. So I tell her exactly that she nods understandingly and before we know it, it’s time for lunch. “Good luck on your date.” I say excitedly she gets that shy look again, she really likes this guy, she pushes her glasses back up her thin nose . “Thank you.” She giggles. “BUT tonight you me the girls, Gavin the club we gotta celebrate your 21st even if its a belated!” I roll my eyes and laugh. “Okay Okay you got me.” She squeals and hugs me tight. “Okay babes see you after lunch.” She says in the lobby and I finally get a glimpse of the mystery man she was telling me about tall dark and handsome just her type I giggle as I walk down to the sushi place where the rest of the gang was meeting.

“Helllloooooo miss sunshine.” Gavin gleams at me from behind designer sunglasses his hair dyed teal and a glass of wine in front of him. “Hi Gav!” I exclaim he wraps me in a tight hug and kisses my cheeks. “b***h I missed you.” he said motioning over our server. “I missed you too Gav it’s been too long.” I spot Nadia, Ember and Cali working their way to our table. The girls squeal and hug me and we have a drink or two and catch up. “So Sevyn what club are we going to tonight birthday girl picks!” Cali say’s almost jumping out of her seat from excitement. “Hmmm what about Marquee.” She nods. “Oh you’ll LOVE it there.” I’ve always been more of a homebody but I can appreciate good music and I love to dance. “So, we should pregame at the Boom Boom Room I think because it’s best to get there around 1, then we have 3 hours.” Ember says already planning. “Thats the virgo in you.” Gavin says playfully pointing at her from his wine glass before taking one last gulp. “Okay I have to get back to the salon before I get tipsy no client wants a drunken hair stylist, plus I have the cutest apprentice right now I think he and I are in love.” Gavin laughs and gets up we say our goodbyes and all hug and go back to work. After lunch I catch up Gina with our plans and ask about her date which went very well. “Ugh I have nothing good to wear to the Boom Boom Room do you wanna go shopping after work?” I actually don’t either so I quickly agree and after work we hit the shops. We get some makeup first when I realize I don’t really own any and at one of my parents shops I find the cutest two piece diamond encrusted skirt and crop top set. Gina’s mouth drops when I try it on. “Girl you look sexy and I mean that respectfully.” I laugh I’ve never worn anything like this but I’m in love with the way it sits above my wide hips and actually covers my boobs. I decide to pair it with a black pair of heels. Gina finds a gorgeous black body con dress that accentuates her curves perfectly and grabs some red heels. After shopping we go our separate ways to relax and get ready. My mom helps me with my makeup a glittery cut crease look with some deep red lipstick and I keep my hair straight, I look damn good I grab a small black purse to match my heels and I’m ready. “Be safe honey.” My mom says “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” She winks “Do the opposite of everything your mother would do please.” Stephen teases from the top of the stairs and my mother and I laugh. My mom does have her wild moments.

I share an uber with Nadia and we pick up Ember and Cali on our way since we all live close. “Ugh this traffic is terrible.” Cali groans and slides down in her seat. “Babe could u have picked a shorter dress.” Ember frowns “I’m going to be punching guys and girls all night” She says and wraps her arms around her kissing her head while trying to pull down her dress we all giggle they are the cutest couple. “We should though have him let us out here and walk to rest of the way.” Ember say’s eyeing the time she hates being late. “We’ll be fine worry wart, Gavin will be fashionably late anyways plus he’s with Gina and well imagine the shock on his face when he see’s that he beat us there.” Cali says and I nod “She’s got a point.” When we finally reach our destination I’m shocked at the line and the essence of New York night life it’s so uplifting and nice to be out. “Oh my God Gay’s can just never be on time huh?” Gavin says playfully elbowing Ember. She mutters something under her breath as we make our way inside. The inside is gorgeous and we all take plenty of pictures together. “Girl you look stunning, the short hair on you chefs kiss.” Gavin says then makes the motion with his lips. I smile “This is what leaving a toxic relationship does to you.” I raise my drink. “Hell yeah!” Nadia exclaims as we all cheers.

3 drinks in and we are all pretty tipsy making our way to Marquees, we decided to go a little early so we could walk and we are just having the best time on the New York sidewalks. “I can’t believe you just gave that homeless man 100$ Sev, drunk you is wild.” Nadia laughs beside me. Okay I may be more than tipsy but I’ve never really drank this much before, we finally get to Marquees and wow is this place alive so many people just feeling the groove we all get another drink than head to the dance floor. This is so much fun bumping and swaying my hips to the music, Ember and Cali are swaying together like they’re the only two people in the room, it’s so adorable I love them. All of a sudden I get the urge to go over to each of my friends and exclaim how much I absolutely adore and love them, so I do just that. Ember and Cali hug me, Nadia, Gina and I go into a long chat about how much we love each other, I think they might be more drunk than me, Gavin tells me he’s cutting me off soon and laughs but tells me he loves me too. I make my way to the bar after for another round, when a very tall, slender guy comes up next to me, he’s got on round glasses with big floppy brown curly hair and he’s so cute, I have to tell him, normally I would be too shy but, I’m drunk! I’m saying whats on my mind. “Hey you’re cute!” I say loudly over the music to him as he’s trying to get the bartenders attention. He looks toward me and smiles sitting on the stool next to me. “Well a very gorgeous girl telling me I’m cute never happens but okay I’ll bite what prank show do you work for?” I laugh a little too hard. “No no it’s just it’s my first time getting drunk and I just feel like I have to tell everyone how I feel right now.” He nods in understanding and holds up his hands. “I’ve been there so are you from around here?” he asks I nod enthusiastically. “Upper East Side.” I reply his eyes widen. “Oh wow with the money.” I nod shyly “What about you?” He smiles “I live on Upper East Side too in my parents old place, it was a birthday present for being absent for the last 22 years of my life.” I raise my drink to him. “Hey that’s something to drink to.” I said and took a sip he follows in pursuit a small smile playing around his lips. For a while we engage in small talk, he’s so sweet and genuinely interested in getting to know me. “So what’s your story?” He asks as I’m getting another drink I take a quick swig and you know what I’m gonna tell this stranger everything so I did I told him all about Ritchie. “So anyways then I ended up losing the baby but I’m in therapy now which is great. But it still kind of hurts like I’m okay but I talk to my angel baby every night before I go to sleep and well that POS is in jail right now he wrote me a letter and begged me to drop the charges, I actually wrote him back, you believe that? I said only 5 simple words though, not a chance in hell. I was pretty proud after that.” He looks shocked and places his hand on mine. “I am so sorry.” I nod “Worse thing have happened and I don’t think I was ready to have a baby when I really think about it.” He nods. “And what of you and your ex?” He holds up his drink and just says “Oh she’s dead. Cancer, what a b***h am I right?” I raise my glass as well and we both take a swig, I realize I don’t even know his name before I can ask a guy comes up next to him. “Noah, Charlie’s about to puke his whole soul out bro we gotta go.” He nods and stands up looking at me he lightly takes my hand and brings it to his lips. “Pleasure to meet you my friend would I be too forward in asking for your number.” I shake my head and take his phone trying to put my number in but I’m plastered. “Okay so it’s not an excuse but I’m way too drunk to remember my number right now but you can find me on i********: @sevyndeluca dm me and I’ll give you my number when I’m sober.” I say laughing he looks at me a smile playing at the corners of his full lips. “Sevyn? I like that name.” he puts it in and walks away.