“Let's travel the world,” I said. Four weeks after our wedding and countless hours of people telling me to leave my husband because we had different color skin, Richard and I sold our car, house, furniture, and most of the clothes we own, leaving the total cost $4,000. After a week, everything we owned was in three suitcases and two carry on bags. We quit our jobs and left for a better life outside of the United States. We hopped in an Uber and arrived at the airport. When we walked in the airport, Richard and I didn’t know where we were going; we just knew that wherever it was we had to get out of this old town together.
Rome, Italy was the only flight leaving in two hours so we purchased two tickets and rushed to security. Smiling at each other, we put our phones and shoes into tiny plastic bins. During that moment it never crossed my mind that I would be happy leaving my home behind.
After a nine hour flight we waited at baggage claim, I held Richard’s hand knowing he was thinking the same thing I was, I hope Rome accepts us. Richard and I still didn’t have a place to stay that night so while he was waiting for our luggage I went on Airbnb. Instantly I found a tiny apartment, a few blocks down from the Colosseum and the price was $300. I hit purchase on my phone knowing that everything was happening to fast and it was all working out to well.
“I feel like we are in a movie,” said Richard as I pinched myself to make sure this was really happening. When we got to the apartment it smelled like warm croissants and lattes. Flowers outlined the window boxes and birds chirped about Richard and I. It felt like home.
“Come on sweety! Get up! It's time to go home,” said Ms. Rietz. I woke up from my wonderful dream, with my head on the desk, I yawned. I wasn't in Italy I was in the last class of the day, before Spring Break.