My Hometown Love

Chapter 3 - The Next Step

I stood in front of the mirror, staring at myself, hoping my reflection in the mirror would tell me what to do. I was tempted to call my friends and just vent but I knew that they were probably busy getting ready for work. I knew that I had to take things into my own hand and be there for myself. But first things first, COFFEE!

Here I was in my kitchen making myself a cup of coffee, laughing at myself because I could have done this all this time instead of standing in a queue waiting for my coffee at Starbucks every morning. I found myself slowly drifting to memories of yesterday and of my usual work routine, so I snapped at myself before I could start wallowing in my sad lousy state. 

I had my coffee and now all I needed was a pep talk. From myself obviously. So, I stood in front of the mirror, look straight into my eyes, and gave myself a serious encouraging pep talk. 

“YOU ARE STRONG, YOU ARE POWERFUL, YOU ARE WORTH IT and YOU ARE ENOUGH!”, I said out loud to my reflection in the mirror. 

Now that I felt a whole lot better and have had my coffee, it was time to hustle hard and work. 

*************

I must have spent almost 5 hours in front of my laptop doing job hunting because soon enough, I felt my stomach growl. I had just got up to get some lunch when I heard the doorbell. 

DING DONG!

Curious, I opened the door to find a food delivery rider with a paper bag with my name on it. 

“Delivery for Ms. Lexie Cooper. Enjoy your meal!”, he said as he passed me my food and left. 

I for one was very confused as I didn’t order anything and yet here I was with a bag full of food in my hands. Full of Chipotle to be specific. Weird, whoever sent it must have known that this was my favorite comfort food. I pulled out my phone and dropped a message into my group chat, asking if anyone sent me food.

DING!

Lydia replied, saying that she sent it as a Pick-Me-Up so that I can be motivated to figure out the next step. Thanking her, I set down my phone, ate my lunch, and got right back to work. 

I spent the whole day sending out my resumes to all the suitable jobs available in New York as the clock kept running and my table kept filling up with coffee mugs. 

**********

It’s been 2 weeks since I was fired and there were still no job offers. It was a beautiful Saturday morning in Central Park and I was accompanying Amy for her routine jog. 

“So, have you decided what you’re going to do, now that you haven’t received any job offers?”, Amy asked coolly without any difficulty.

“I...I...don’t...know...yet...My…rent...for...next...month...is...due...next...week.”, I replied while panting, desperately trying to catch my breath. 

“Lex, are you okay? You look like you’re gonna pass out.”, she replied laughing as she stopped at a nearby bench.

“Ha-ha, very funny Amy.”, I said glaring at her. 

“So, have you told your parents yet? Or even your brother? Don’t you think they would wanna know?”, Amy asked this time with a hint of seriousness and concern in her voice. 

“No, I haven’t. I just don’t want them to worry, I’m sure they will ask me to come back home as soon as they know I don’t have a job for 2 weeks now”, I replied looking down at my feet as they play with the grass.

“Alexandra Cooper! You better call them and tell them. You going back there is much better than you sitting in your dark apartment with your laptop day and night hunting jobs.”, Amy told me strictly wagging her finger at me. 

“I know! I will okay? I’m just waiting for a sign to tell me it’s time to go home. Come on Amy, you know how excited I was when I first moved out here. I was so proud to leave home for a job in the city. It’s not easy to go back home with no big city job anymore.”, I replied frustrated at this situation. 

“Oh Lex, I know. Don’t worry, it’s all gonna be okay. I’m just worried about you. We all are.”, she said as she put her arms around my shoulders and pulled me closer. 

“Thanks, Amy, I really appreciate you all looking out for me.”, I replied putting my head on her shoulder. 

“Okay, break over! Time for another lap around the lake! Up! Up! Up!”, Amy suddenly shouted jumping to her feet and pulling me up along with her. 

“Nooooooooo!!!”, I screamed. 

*********

It’s true what I told Amy. I was waiting for a sign to move me to tell my family about my current situation. I was a firm believer in destiny and the universe like that. 

In the meantime, while waiting for that sign, if it ever comes, I still had to live my life. So I picked up a book and plopped on the beanbag chair. Yes, I have a beanbag chair. A bright pink one actually. I made myself comfortable and started reading. 

RING! RING! RING!

I looked around for my phone franticly but came to a standstill when I saw the name that was flashing on the screen. 

Jake Cooper.

Oh No! It’s my older brother. Did he find out about my current situation somehow? But, how? My head was filling up with all the possible reasons that he could be suddenly calling me for but I picked up anyway. 

“Hello?”, I said fearfully.

“Lexie! What took you so long to pick up? Having a ‘friend’ over?”, I heard my brother scream on the phone, laughing away.

Oh, how I missed his voice. 

“Jake! Noooo, I was just in the kitchen. Anyway, what’s up with the sudden call?”, I replied casually.

“Oh, do I need a reason to call my baby sister now, Miss New York?”, Jake said sarcastically.

“Jakey, I know you. There must be something.”, I said sternly. 

“Yeah, you’re right. I hate you for knowing me too well.”, he said with a little hint of annoyance in his voice, much to my delight since I always loved annoying him. 

“You love me and you know it.”, I replied mockingly, trying so hard to stop myself from smiling so hard.

God, I miss him so much!

“Yeah yeah. Keep telling yourself that. Anyway, here’s the thing. I proposed to Maria yesterday.”, Jake said slowly, trying to gauge my response. 

“Argghh!! Jakey! OMG, that’s amazing! I’m so happy for you.”, I said squealing away!

“My ears! My ears! Ha-ha, just kidding. I wish you were here yesterday to witness it, Lex. But no worries, the wedding in a month. So you better haul-a*s back here as soon as you can. I need you here Lexie.”, Jake said seriously. 

“Wow, the wedding is in a month! Yeah about that, Jake....”, I tried to make myself tell him. 

“Come on, we need Ms. New York Fancy Pants Big Shot here. I can’t wait to introduce you to my friends to my baby sis, the big shot working in New York. So, don’t tell me you can’t take some time off for your brother’s wedding. Don’t do this to me Lex...”, Jake cut me off, pleading with me. 

“I will try my best, Jake. I won’t miss your wedding for the world.”, I replied trying hard to not burst out in tears or even blurt out my situation.

I didn’t want him to get bummed out when he seemed so happy about his wedding. I knew that I had to tell him eventually but not right now and not this way.

“Okay Lex, I gotta go now. I hope to see you soon. Bye!”, Jake said hanging up. 

“Bye Jakey”, I said as I stared at my phone as his picture disappeared from my phone. 

**********

So, now there is a new situation that has come to light. My dear older brother, Jake’s wedding. Something that I knew I couldn’t miss or else I would regret it terribly for my entire life!

He seemed so proud of me working here in New York. I can’t go home empty-handed like this as a nobody. Maybe I could spend another 2 weeks looking for more jobs and probably I might get something. Then I can go back home 2 weeks before the wedding, with a job and live up to his expectations.

I walked over to my dresser and picked up a family photo. We took this picture on Christmas, the year I left home. I haven’t been home in 2 years. The last time I saw them was when they came over to New York last year for the 4th of July. God, I miss them so much. I put the frame down and picked up another frame with a picture of Jake and me with his around me, squeezing me as I glared at him. 

I knew very well that I couldn’t do this to Jake. He needs me and I want to be there for him. A drop of my tear fell on the frame just as I put the picture back on the dresser. I took a step back as I stared at both of the pictures and then it finally dawned on me. This was my sign. The very sign that I had been waiting for.

I picked up my phone and dialed a number. Before the person on the other line could say anything, I started talking, trying not to choke on my tears. 

“Hello, Mom. It’s me. I’m coming home.”