And I think what hurts the most is getting comfortable in a certain place, and then being ripped from it over and over again. I spent almost twelve years in Athens, Georgia. I grew up there, made friends there, and I had my whole childhood built around the one little place. I made a friend who I now call my sister even if we do live hundreds of miles apart. And then one day, I get the news that my whole family is moving. I could feel my whole world crashing down and crumbling before me. I had never felt so much pain all at once. As friends told me to stay, as my boyfriend told me he loved me and didn't want me leaving him, and as I made some harsh decisions. I had to make the time I had there worth my while and do as many things as could before I traveled my way up to New Hampshire. I went to parties and I spent the nights at friend's houses. I had my birthday party and invited people over to spend as much time as they could with me. I knew I was going to miss everyone and I didn't want my last moments with everyone to be dull. I sat at my computer, blankly staring at my Facebook page. I clicked on the events section and typed in, "Going Away". I told everyone I cared about and figured would come and see me that they needed to meet me at IHop to say their farewells.

There were countless nights of crying my self to sleep or even not being able to sleep because I was over thinking things. I never thought something like that would have happened and I wish sometimes that I would wake up and it would all just be a dream. When it came to the point that we were packing our car and heading to IHop, I realized that no matter how much I wanted to hope, this was real. We sat there for almost an hour and we hugged and exchanged gifts and talked. Finally we said our goodbyes and I stepped in the car, packed to the ceiling with boxes and buckets. We pulled out of the parking lot and I just stared out the window, eyes wide and vision blurry from the tears I had been holding back. Little did I know that what was waiting for me in New Hampshire and Massachusetts would have changed my life and made me the strong lady I am now.

SERENITY