I immediately call my family on video.
Their faces light up when they answer. I turn the phone slowly, showing them every corner.
I remind them, again that no one must know I’m in Athens. They nod, understanding.
They’re back to their normal lives now. Safe. Stable.
My brother grins when I tell him I’ll be covering his freshman year expenses. “Just focus on school,” I say firmly. “I’ve got you.”
Nina can barely contain herself.
She rushes straight into the kitchen, hands clapping in excitement. “This is my favorite part!” she announces.
“I’m going to cook everything. Greek dishes, foreign dishes—everything I see online, I’ll try it!”
I laugh, the sound surprising even me.
Standing there, keys in my hand, my future inside my body, and a new city outside my door, I finally feel it.
