Prologue

As she saw the familiar street go by through the car window, Arushi smiled a melancholic smile. Until two years ago, she had been wandering those streets too, having grown up in them. But now, she wasn't sure she'd ever come back.

She felt her hand being squeezed and glanced in the direction of the girl in the driver's seat. She gave her a comforting smile, which Arushi tried to return with one of her own, though she had little success, seeing the look of concern on the other girl's face.

"Are you sure of this?" She asked with one hand on the steering wheel, as Arushi went back to looking through the window, trying to imprint the old houses into her memory, seeing them for perhaps the very last time.

"Yes. I can't live here and pretend to be someone I'm not. I don't have it in me anymore." She replied solemnly, resolute in her decision, yet feeling a deep sadness from within. Her chest felt constricted as if it was her body's way of telling her how big a step she was taking – how different everything was going to be.

Ever since she was a little girl, Arushi had dreamed of leaving her home and living somewhere else, somewhere out of the grasp of her constricting home, somewhere she could be free. Yet, the reality did not seem as glamorous and exciting as her fantasies had been.

"Besides," she said with a small but sincere smile directed to the other girl. "I have you, don't I? So I'll be just fine."

"You're right. I'm not ever leaving you alone." The girl replied with a grin, making them both dissolve into a fit of giggles.

As they exited the city, Arushi felt herself be able to breathe again. She rolled down the window and smiled. She'd be just fine.