28!Welcome home!

Violet 

The warm air hit me the moment I stepped onto the private walkway of the airport. I pulled my shades down and took a deep breath. The smell of home, slightly dusty, slightly sweet, slightly chaotic, filled my lungs. After three years abroad, I was finally back.

Dragging three heavy bags behind me, my phone in my hand, my handbag hanging by a thread off my shoulder, I must have looked like a one-woman circus. But I didn’t care. I was excited. I was going to see Sylvia.

I smiled just thinking about her. My best friend. My soul sister. Although we came from the same state, we only met when we got to school. It was one of the best decisions to be friends with her. She had begged me for months to return once I finished my program. And when she bought a house in GRA just for me? I knew it was time.

As I moved through the hallway, I noticed someone walking in my direction. A tall guy, built like a wall, his head buried in his phone. I tried to dodge him, juggling my bags like a professional street performer. But before I could move sideways, boom.

He walked straight into me, sending my bags flying, and me, crashing to the floor.

“Agh!” I yelled as my left wrist hit the tiled floor hard. Pain shot up my arm like a bolt of electricity. My knees throbbed, and I felt something sharp poke through my sleeve. I winced, trying to pull myself up, blinking fast to hold back the tears.

The guy finally looked up, barely glancing at me. “Sorry,” he said casually, like he’d just brushed past me in a supermarket aisle. “You should watch where you’re going.”

Excuse me? I scoffed angrily.

“Hey!” I shouted after him.

He stopped and turned, clearly surprised that I dared to speak. His eyes flashed with something, and I could see him staring at me coldly, but I didn't care, I wanted to put him in his place.

“How could you?” I growled, pointing at him. “I was literally trying to avoid you. But nooo, your precious phone was more important! You just kept walking like the world belongs to you.”

I didn’t care about the people turning to stare. Let them stare. I was too angry to think at this point.

“You rude punk!” I snapped. “Your broad body swallowed mine like I was invisible. And now I’m the one who’s supposed to learn to look better? Seriously? You tall guys really think you're something.”

The guy narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms. “Look, I don’t have time for this. I said I was sorry.”

“Yeah, well your sorry was as dry as your personality!” I hissed.

He gave me one last irritated look and turned to walk away.

“Unbelievable,” I muttered and stomped my feet in the ground, then picked up my bags with my good hand. My wrist was throbbing now. But I wasn’t about to cry. No way. I had Sylvia waiting for me, and I wasn’t about to let some oversized ego ruin my mood.

As soon as I stepped outside, I saw her. Sylvia, standing beside her car, her eyes scanning the crowd left and right like a hawk.

“Sylvia!” I called out, waving excitedly.

Her head snapped in my direction. “Violet!”

She ran toward me, arms wide. We screamed, like the dramatic women we were, and hugged tight in the middle of the sidewalk, not caring who stared.

“You’re finally back!” she said, nearly bouncing with joy. “I’ve missed you so much!”

“Same here,” I said with a laugh, holding onto her tightly. “You have grown so lean baby.”

“Really? I don't think so, why does everyone keep saying that.”

“You're really lean, one would think you're about to go into modeling.”

“Violet please, I almost forgot how sarcastic you are.”

“I’m not being sarcastic Sylvia, I'm telling the truth, forget my funny side now.”

“Then it's your job to make me add up Miss violet.”

“Ohh, yes it is, get ready to be fast.”

“No no no, I don't want that kind of thing. I still need my figure.”

“I was only joking,” she said and we both laughed. Let's get going, I'm hungry.”

She pulled back and grabbed my bag. “Let me take one.”

“Ahhhh!” I cried out as she touched my left wrist in pain.

Her eyes widened with concerns and surprise. “What happened?! We just laughing earlier”

“Some blind, phone-addicted man-mountain knocked me over in the airport,” I said, gritting my teeth.

“What?! Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere else? Come on, we’re going to the hospital now and no objections.”

Before I could argue, Sylvia had already opened the car door and gently helped me inside. She drove like a woman on a mission, cutting through traffic like a pro, ignoring my protests the whole way.

Thirty minutes later, we were in one of the private emergency rooms at Rhodes Hospital. Sylvia had a nurse on standby and a doctor already checking my wrist.

“You’re lucky it’s not broken,” the doctor said. “Just badly sprained. You’ll need rest, ice, and support for a few days.”

I groaned. “I just got home, and I’m already getting medical attention.”

Sylvia smirked. “Welcome back.”

“This isn't fair, I will really give him an ear full when I see him next time.”

“Is that even possible?”

“We live in a small world, never forget that.”

Once they wrapped my wrist, Sylvia insisted on taking me straight to the house she got for me in St. Nicole GRA. The moment we pulled into the quiet, tree-lined estate, my jaw dropped.

“Sylvia… this is not a house. This is a palace.”

She laughed. “You deserve it. It’s yours. Full kitchen, garden in the back, and you’ve got two extra rooms if you want to start an art studio. Plus I can easily come over and spend a night in one of the rooms.”

My eyes filled with tears. “You did all this… for me?”

Sylvia gave me that stubborn smile of hers. “Of course I did. You’re my best friend. I couldn’t have you coming back to the state with nowhere to call your own. Now go inside and rest. 

“You know I can afford it right? You didn't have to.”

“Yes, I do. I just wanted to do something for you. You have always been there for me, so it's my turn now.”

“I love you Sylvia. But don't use money like this.”

“I love you too, now go inside, freshen up, eat the food I bought and then have a good night's sleep. I will come check on you tomorrow. Arrange whatever and then we shop!”

I laughed, even as my wrist pulsed in pain. “Yes ma, this is going to be one wild ride.”

And deep in my heart, I knew this was just the beginning. This was another fave of my life and I was ready. And it was already looking good except from the ride punk from earlier. But all the best.