The Real Reason

Walking down a street seeing the kids walking home from school I wave to a few of them as they talk to their friends. I walk into my favorite bakery Bibble & Sip. “Hey Coral here for your usual ?” As I walk in Sophia already has my usual up on the counter, it’s slow for a Wednesday. “Yeah I’ll take my usual Sophia” As I sit down Sophia looks over at me “ Sugar you look like you have a rainy cloud over your head, what’s wrong ?” I look back to her, forcing a small smile, “Sophia I moved here for the opportunity and excitement. Everyone told me that there was inspiration around every corner and that there is opportunity everywhere. I don’t have a job. I moved here for hell. I'm not even doing what I moved here for instead I'm trying my best to keep up with the cost of staying in New York in my apartment. I'm paying almost $4,000 for a little over 700 feet.” 

She looks at me smiling “darlin why did you actually move here, and don’t say because of your dream job there’s another reason what is it ?” I start to nibble on my blueberry muffin while she is helping other customers, a little girl with cute braids walks in with a beautiful black mother holding her hand and gets me thinking about why I really moved here, as i walk over to the window seat and look out onto the street I see the energy and history here, I see the diverse neighborhoods. The noise doesn’t sound like the cursing and car horns that annoy me at 2 in the morning it sounds like music to my ears, while yes I have to wait for a taxi every once in a while and Bibble & Sip isn’t always open because Sophia couldn’t make it to the store that day. This is a huge city and it’s as busy as a bunch of worker bees just making it through the day. 

“Darlin do you know why you moved to this busy city ?” I look out to the street’s then look back to this lovely lady. “ I moved here for the beautiful diversity and culture, the history and energy. The variety it has to offer and the excitement it brings is entirely different from my hometown in Ohio, the noise gets annoying but right now it’s music to my ears, the bustling city is amazing to see. I love New York.” She smiles and tucks a piece of hair behind my hair “ and you hate it, darlin i know times are hard but if you want to pick up a few hours here then you're welcomed to.” “Thanks Sophia I think I'm gonna head home, maybe take a walk around the neighborhood.” Sophia shakes her head as i start heading for the door “be safe sugar” “ok hun.” As I walk out and see the beautiful sunset I turn down west 50th street heading to my apartment. When I walk in my neighbor knocks on my door as I open it. Grace has a silly grin on her face. “Hey Coral we’re all having a party on the roof are you coming up it’s going to be great we have a band and everything and from what i hear they are really good” You look around seeing if there is anything you need to do “Yeah i’ll be up i just need to get out of these clothes”, “ok i’ll see you there.”

After a quick shower and changing into something different you head up to the roof and see that everyone is out on the roof. “Coral dear how's college I, we haven't talked in a while how you decided where you're going or what your major is?” As i smile to myself realizing how lucky i am “Yeah Martha i’m going to NYU and i’m going in for a bachelor's degree in the Theater Arts” she smiles at me but i see through it immediately “honey not to be rude but that’s not a real job do you have a backup plan?” I look away and let out a sigh. I've heard so many times the same question asked. “Yes my back up plan if theater art doesn’t work out is to go into photography that’s the other bachelor degree i’m working on” “ that’s good sweet heart i don’t want to see you end up like the other people out there who didn’t make it.” “Of course Martha, i’m gonna go get a drink and catch up with a few other people”

By the time I got over to the punch bowl I'd talked to at least 5 neighbors and was cornered by Fredrick, the apartment flirt (He’s in my theater class). As I start to get away from the middle of the crowd the new york skyline is as bright as the night sky back in ohio, when i look up I can faintly make out the stars. “I see you don’t like big crowds either.” I’ve never seen this man in my life, his brown hair flops over his eyes just the tiniest bit. Even in the little light that is here I can see his eyes, they're blue like the Pacific and as deep, I look away so I don't get lost. “I’m sorry what did you say?” he shakes his head slightly “I noticed that you don’t like the big crowds.” “ Oh yeah I'm not big on the crowds.” He looks away then looks at me confused “Then why are you here?” My eyes widen with shock. “look i came out here cause i had nothing else to do tonight, i didn’t come up here to get judged by someone i don’t even know.” Walking away he grabs my wrist, “hey i didn’t mean it like that, i just meant if you prefer to stay at your place then why did you come to a party that you knew you wouldn’t like or enjoy being at?”