Sienna
Seattle’s rainy as usual. It does nothing to lift my sullen mood.
This is the last day I’m ever gonna live here. It’s time to say goodbye to my apartment and to Seattle, and to everything I’ve known.
I pour a glass of wine and look around the place.
My friend, Liz, is helping me. We’ve been roommates for the last four years in college.
Now I’m about to start grad school and move back home with my parents. Home is more of an estate, actually. I’m heiress to the famous Rose fortune.
My dad is Hudson Rose. He’s my favorite man on earth. And so I kind of can’t wait to get home again, to the familiar confines of LA.
Seattle’s been great and everything, but I’m just ready to be with my parents, living the life of luxury that I’m used to.
My Seattle apartment is nice, but it’s not a sprawling estate in Beverly Hills with a pool, my own private terrace, maids and everything.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to returning to all those niceties.
“I can’t believe you’re really leaving me,” Liz says.
I look at her, tears forming in my eyes. “I know. But this will do nothing to affect our friendship. We survived four years of college together, after all.”
She laughs, and so do I.
Liz and I have been through everything together. We’ve been through breakups and boyfriends, friends and best friends. We’ve been to parties and spent countless hours together in the library studying.
She’s been my Ride or Die.
I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
It’s just that we’re both going to different grad schools.
“You’ll come visit me, right?” I say.
“Of course. You think I’m gonna miss out on that gorgeous mansion your parents own?” She laughs.
“It’s gonna be weird not living with you anymore,” I say. “Who am I gonna tell my secrets to?”
“Yeah, I know,” she says, crying now, too. “I’m gonna have to find somebody else to go out with, and somebody else to shop with.”
“Well, that shouldn’t be too much of a chore.”
I take a sip of my wine and consider her words.
I’ve never had a best friend like Liz. Usually, friends come and go. Usually, it’s hard to find someone as solid and permanent as her. She always has my best interests at heart, and I have the same for her.
We look out for each other. At least, we’ve done so for the last few years.
But now I’m going home to LA, and to my LA friends. It’s going to be an entirely different scene, but it’s what I’m ready for.
“You gonna be okay here all by yourself?” I ask her.
“Yeah, don’t worry about me. I’ve got it all figured out. I’m going to be the best damn doctor this town has ever seen.”
I hug her. “I know you will. But if you ever need a change of scenery, you know you can always come to me in LA.”
She hugs me too, and I realize it’s our final goodbye.
It’s never easy leaving a best friend especially someone as wonderful as Liz.
She helps me pack the final box, and everything is ready for the movers’ arrival tomorrow.
I get a call on my phone from the driver, ready to pick me up.
“Well,” I say to her. “I guess it’s time for me to go.”
We hug, and she’s crying—and I’m crying—and it’s all I can do to keep myself together.
I knew this day would come, but I never thought it would be so painful to leave.
Seattle has been the place where I grew up and where I discovered myself. It’s been my home, and it will always be my home, in a way.
“Bye,” I tell her as I pull my suitcase out the door.
“Have fun!” she calls after me.
I leave my apartment and silently say goodbye to all the memories I have there. Then, I drag my suitcase to the elevator and ride down to meet my car.
My father’s made sure everything is taken care of for my journey home.
I walk through the lobby and out the doors to see the driver.
“Hello, Ms. Rose. I’m here to take you to the airport.”
“Thanks,” I say, taking one final look at the building that I’ve called home.
He opens the door for me and I slide into the car.
I’m already living the life. My father makes sure everything is taken care of. The town car’s taking me to the airport where a private plane will fly me to LA.
We ride in silence as I try to control the tears that threaten to spill down my cheeks. I look out the windows at the view of Seattle and think of how this place has been amazing to me.
I’ve experienced everything here. I’ve learned and grown as a person. I’ve made friendships that will last a lifetime.
And then I think to myself, as I always do, that I experienced everything except for one thing, a major thing…I have yet to lose my virginity.
I guess you can say I’m Daddy’s little girl. I’ve always wanted to do right by my parents and to never disappoint them, so I’ve kept myself intact. Though that doesn’t mean I haven’t had the urge.
But, who am I kidding? I’ve never met a man who deserves to even touch my body in that way.
I know I’m getting older. But I have time for sex, right?
I sigh and think how I may not even have time for boyfriends. I’m about to enter grad school, and it’s gonna be more intense than ever.
I sink back into the leather seats and see the city move out of view as we get to the airport.
My driver pulls right up onto the tarmac in front of the plane.
I thank him and board my flight.
The pilot introduces himself, and so does my stewardess.
Daddy’s arranged everything. He always does.
My dad is the nicest man on the planet. He’s also the richest.
We’ve always been a private family, and my dad has always guarded our privacy well.
We’ve lived peacefully despite our wealth and luxury in Beverly Hills for as long as I can remember.
The thing is, he’s becoming upset by the mob scene in LA. He’s seeing all the crime that’s happening as a result of the different mafia in town and how it trickles into the political sphere.
Daddy thinks it’s wrong, and he’s decided to run for Senate, an idea I’m diametrically opposed to.
His new venture means our private life won’t be so private anymore. And he’s had to hire even more security for me than before. I’m leaving Seattle to go home to a new life, one in the public eye, and nothing could excite me less.
Besides, I know my father will probably win the race. He’ll be the next Senator from California for sure.
That means I’ll become the Senator’s daughter, a well-known figure around town and the country.
The jet takes off and I watch the lights of Seattle disappear. My home and my freedom are fading from view.
While I’m excited to go home, I can’t help but have a bad feeling about my father’s political ambitions.
The stewardess brings me champagne as I look out the window at the sunset, and try to forget all that’s wrong and focus on all that’s right.
Goodbye, city.
Goodbye, old me.
Hello, world.