It’s your biggest decision to leave your home town. You’re in an airport, watching people and departing planes.

It’s your biggest decision to leave your home town. You’re in an airport, watching people and departing planes. You don’t know if your child is going to be going to school. You’re so stressed. And then you hear your name. You have to stay. This is your family. This is where you should be. This is where you’ll make it. You decide to stay and take a job that pays less than the job you left. You keep your children in the same school. You’re putting your children’s future in your hands. It’s scary. It’s overwhelming. You’re going to school and studying for a job that you’ve never worked a day in your life. You have no idea what’s going to happen next. You try to get on with your life and you’re constantly reminded that your family is counting on you.

It’s your biggest decision to leave your home town. You’re in an airport, watching people and departing planes. You don’t know if your child is going to be going to school. You’re so stressed. And then you hear your name. You have to stay. This is your family. This is where you should be. This is where you’ll make it. You decide to stay and take a job that pays less than the job you left. You keep your children in the same school. You’re putting your children’s future in your hands. It’s scary. It’s overwhelming. You’re going to school and studying for a job that you’ve never worked a day in your life. You have no idea what’s going to happen next. You try to get on with your life and you’re constantly reminded that your family is counting on you.

“Breathe”

You ‘re holding your breath.

You ‘re trying to keep it together.

You ‘re trying to fight through the tears.

You ‘re scared.

You’re in an airport, watching people say goodbye before heading through security.

You realize that you are leaving soon yourself.

You walk up to a person standing by the gate, you tell them you’re going home and they cheerfully wish you good luck.

You are not going home.

You’re going to a different airport.

You’re going to the gates of a different place.

A new home.

You’re going to a new city.

A new adventure.

Your flight has changed.

You don’t have an assigned seat.

You are not on the same plane as your luggage.

You have no idea where you’re going.

You have a giant, jagged, throbbing, neon, neon pink “EXIT” tattooed on your neck.

You are not safe.

You’re going to a new place, far from your home, far from your friends, far from your dog, far from your memories.

You aren’t even safe from your memories.

They’re going to be there with you, no matter where you go.

You are going to start over.

You are going to start over in a foreign country.

The place you’ve always dreamed of living in, the place you’ve always dreamed of living.

You are going to have to live in this city.

In this house.

In this neighborhood.