Chapter 1

Laila

As the captain announced we were about to land, I inwardly sighed in relief as my butt was numbing and my back was hurting badly after such a long flight. I could already see myself getting up and stretching out properly and then walking and walking, and walking just to feel like a human again.

I moved my eyes from the movie I was watching on the small screen and looked outside the window. There it was — the city where I'm going to spend the next 6 months. I was excited as it was something new and unknown. I have never been here so there was everything to explore. I relished the thrilling feeling of it all as traveling was my passion.

As we landed, I waited till most people exited the plane. I always stayed at the back because there was no point in rushing as the whole process was always slow. First, walking endlessly in the maze of an airport to the border patrol and waiting in the long queue and waiting some more while the border patrol checked the documents continuing through another maze to the luggage check out. And then again waiting and waiting, and waiting for the luggage to arrive. There was no point in rushing, so I didn’t. I chuckled at myself. My English could be better, right? I have started to think in English since I entered the airport in my homeland to freshen up my memory because if I haven’t used English for a long time, I become slightly rusty.

As I was finally out of the airport, I jumped in a taxi and we headed to my new home that I managed to rent online. I eagerly looked out the window, seeing the roads and streets for the first time. Some spots caught my attention, and I made a mental note to explore them in my free time.

The landlord was waiting for me at the door as I managed to call him at the airport and said that I was coming. Harrald gave me the keys and we entered the place. He gave me a small tour. I’ve seen the place in pictures online but as I was here now, I tried to feel the place's vibe. It was a small studio-type apartment with a separate small bedroom that only had a place for a double bed and a closet. The living room was combined with the kitchen on one side. It was decorated in white and gray tones like an IKEA-style home, which was fine for me. What I liked the most about the apartment were the wide windows facing south. With that, I would get all the sun in my apartment. As a person coming from the dark north, I loved the sun, though today it was gray and cloudy weather even in Denver.

The landlord showed me where a washing machine, a dishwasher, and an oven were while instructing me how they worked and stuff. Then he showed me how the manual heater worked and how to change the temperature. Thank God it was simple enough. He gave me the Wi-fi password. Yes! One of the most important things for my world to run smoothly. "I'm addicted to you", I sang in my head and I smiled inwardly.

We had a small talk about my whereabouts, like where I came from, for how long I was going to stay in the States, etc. We did discuss it over emails before, but oh well… Harrald was a sweet gentleman in his forties who had two teenage daughters. Renting out apartments was his side income as he worked as an accountant.

As he left, I sat on the gray sofa and took in my new apartment. It had white walls and a gray-boarded floor. There was a glass coffee table and a small, white table next to the sofa with a gray table lamp on it. The kitchen had white cupboards and a gray kitchen island. Next to it were two black plastic bar stools. I grimaced. That was the only ugly part of this apartment. Maybe I could get them changed. Yup! I put a mental note on my to-do list. Overall, the apartment felt good and light. This will be my home for the next six months. I just need to make it more personal and add some cozy vibe to truly feel at home.

Though I was tired after two flights and eight hours of waiting in transfer, I wanted to settle in. I didn’t waste time and started to unpack I put my clothes in the white wooden closet. The apartment looked clean but whenever I moved to a new place, I liked to clean it all again to be sure I was starting fresh. I found some cleaning sprays and started to clean the sandy-colored tiles and white cupboards in the bathroom. I scrubbed a small shower corner and the white sink. When everything felt clean, I put all my toiletries and cosmetics in. Afterward, I moved to the kitchen and cleaned the white wooden cupboards and the gray fridge.

The good thing is that the apartment was small. However, by the time I was done, I felt exhausted. As cleaning made me hungry l needed to get groceries. I took my purse, phone, and a printed map. I didn’t have a local SIM card yet, so I had to use a map like in the good old days. I fished a pepper spray from my suitcase as well. I didn’t know what kind of neighborhood I lived in, so safety was first. I put on blue jeans and a gray T-shirt with a graphic wolf head printed on it. It was made by one of the local artists and I liked the style. I put on a loose white hoody that covered my butt. I didn’t want to attract any kind of attention. And oh boy, those American guys could be bluntly rude. I’ve seen and heard it all – whistling, comments on my appearance, and even straight-on offers to have s.ex. No, thank you. I didn’t want to experience that again. I put on a mustard yellow scarf and matching color beany, as it was chilly outside.

I found a small grocery shop just three blocks from my building. It had most of the basics I needed. I even got a new SIM card for my phone. After returning home, I took a shower at last. I washed away the fatigue that long flights always imposed on my body. And of course, I sweated while cleaning and organizing the house.

Afterward, I texted my mom, sister, some closest friends, and several colleagues to let them know that I had safely arrived and that this was my new phone number. After chatting with my mom and sister, I was done for the day.

Finally, I crashed into my bed. I pulled out the white covers and snuggled under the blanket. The bed was softer than I liked but it would do. I was here just temporarily. I was happy that tomorrow was Sunday as I could get adjusted to local hours and rest properly before starting work on Monday. With a satisfied sigh, I let the sleep consume me.