Author: Imani Lindsey

I am HOME

I was 19 years old in college had my first break up and I was falling apart. I was so depressed I skipped classes and meals I really lost myself and no one noticed. I was a healthy 165 pounds and within three months I was 125 pounds I looked sickly and would cry myself to sleep. I was tired of getting up everyday and doing the same thing over and over again, feeling like nothing putting on a fake smile I just wanted it to end. I felt trapped I knew I had to leave but where would I go? Unknowingly to me my dad was talking with his sister my aunt who lived in Alabama I’m guessing he had spoken with her about everything I was going through and was concerned about my well being. I had spoken with her one night and she asked if I wanted to move down there and without hesitation I said YES!!! I started looking at plane tickets schools jobs I was ready to go I was excited to start a new journey but something happened a few weeks before I planned to leave. My mom almost dying from an allergic reaction to Iodine I was scared I didn’t know what to do should I stay or should I go and finally be happy but mom she needed me how could I ever leave her. My mom survived and she told me go go live your life I will be fine and that was all the confirmation I needed to go and live. The day finally comes as my dad and I head to LA we finally make it to LAX and he drops me off hugs and kisses me tells me how much he loves me and we go our separate ways. So there’s a first time for everything right? So here I am going through security and boarding a plane for the first time. I’m seated next to a nice lady we chat and I tell her this is my first time on a plane she begins to tell me how taking off and landing is hard part but once your’re in the air it’s not so bad. I ended up getting a window seat only because the person who was supposed to sit there never boarded the plane. As a first timer on a plane I thought I would be scared to look out the window but no I wanted to see everything. I finally make it to Atlanta where my cousin is picking me up. I was so tired I did not sleep at all on the plane ride I mean how could I I’m on a plane for the first time in life. I was so ready to sleep but she said this is Atlanta we have to get to Alabama which is a two hour drive I almost had a break down I was so tired and just wanted to get in a nice warm bed and sleep for hours. So we finally get to my aunts house she comes from her room hugs and kisses me telling me how happy she was to see me and that I was finally there. I went to sleep and woke up the next morning and couldn’t believe where I was and that I Imani who swore she would never get on a plane actually got on plane I was proud of myself for actually doing something big for once and for making my own decision to start over and to better myself. As I look outside at the tress and the grey sky smelling the clean crisp air it was at that moment that I knew I was HOME.