Page 25 of New Growth
“It isn’t,” I agreed. “I don’t regret trying it, but I think my mother is right. I didn’t come here to start over. I came here to run. Maybe it’s time to stop running and face reality.”
Esther cocked an eyebrow. “And that reality is?”
“It’s time for me to go home.”
Her eyes widened. “No, Elliot. You can’t!”
I smiled faintly at her reaction. “Look, I’ve enjoyed my time here, and I’m so glad I got to meet you. But it’s time to move on. I’m wasting my time with this.”
“You’re just frustrated,” she said firmly.
“Iam! I thought coming here would magically fix my problems, like some clueless teenager. I was so ready to get away from everything, I didn’t think it through.”
Esther placed a calming hand on my knee.
“Regardless of why you came here, youcame. That’s a big step, Elliot, and you should be proud of that. So what if it didn’t work out the way you wanted? So what if you haven’t figured everything out yet? You’re twenty-five. You don’t have to have it all put together in a month. Slow down. Think. What’s the next logical step for you?”
I sighed in disinterest. “See if I can get my deposit back on my apartment?” I answered sarcastically.
She swatted my knee lightly, a spirited smile on her face. “Try again.”
I thought of the words from Daddy’s will:We can’t control the hand life deals, but we can adapt and pivot.I hesitated, glancing down at my hands, which were nervously twisting the hem of my shirt. Then, after a long pause, I said, “I don’t know. Maybe try something different? Like, looking for a job here?”
Esther tilted her head, studying me carefully before nodding with approval.
“Good idea,” she said reassuringly. “But why don’t you try a different course at the academy?”
My brow furrowed as I looked up at her. “I can do that?”
“Yup,” she replied with a bright smile. “You just need to apply for a transfer. Sadly, we won’t be in the same class anymore, but we’ll definitely still be friends.”
“Of course, we will.” I leaned back slightly, resting my weight on my hands as I stared off into the distance, my mind churning. “What other courses would I even be interested in?” I wondered aloud, almost to myself.
Esther looked in the same direction as me. “There are tons,” she said, counting on her fingers. “Microblading, facials, hairstyling—”
I straightened at the last one. That might be something I could work with. After all, I’ve been doing Ryan’s and my own hair for years. Perhaps it’s worth taking a look into. “Hairstyling sounds interesting.”
She grinned, clearly pleased that something had caught my attention. “Then check out a class. Most teachers don’t mind an observer.”
“That’s good.” I tapped my fingers lightly against my thigh, mulling it over. “Maybe I will.”
“Great,” she said, her enthusiasm contagious as she gave me an encouraging nudge.
We sat in comfortable silence for a moment before I spoke again. “Es. Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“My first week here…I don’t know if you remember, but you said something about finding your purpose. Can I ask—what’s yours?”
She tilted her head thoughtfully. “You want to know my purpose?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
Esther’s expression softened, her usual vibrant energy taking on a reflective tone. “My mother owns a restaurant back home. She’s had it for about thirty years. It’s her pride and joy. Besides me, of course.” She winked, her cockiness earning a playful roll of my eyes.
She laughed lightly. “What? It’s true.”
Her smile lingered before she continued. “Growing up, I watched her work so hard to build it from the ground up. She sacrificed so much for me. But I knew early on that I wanted nothing to do with it.”
