It's weird how sometimes people we meet by chance become important to us. How easy it is to go from being strangers to being friends, and then, out of nowhere, a flame starts to ignite within us. It's amazing and at the same time terrifying how one person is able to change our worldview, our behavior and habits. Ourselves at all. Just bought a one-way ticket. Put everything on one card. Sink or swim. Profit or loss. Love or career.

Unfortunately, I had to make that decision too. And although it may not have been fully thought out - it was mine, and at that moment it seemed right to me.

I remember that when my mother found out about this idea, she was furious - which made me even more convinced that I was doing the right thing, that this was what I needed. I couldn't wait to get out of this damn city full of pompous businessmen. London had its charm, but recently I couldn't find a place here. Everything around and everyone annoyed me. Besides, I couldn't let my mother run my life any longer. And it went on way too long. I should have left to the US a long time ago. I had no reason then. Now that I had accidentally found out who my father was, I had to take matters into my own hands. I could no longer live under the dictates of my mother. She couldn't stop me from meeting him. I never really found out why he left us. I was going to explain it. Also the fact that he didn't send me birthday or Christmas cards. I could tell after that, that he wasn't a father of the year. But most of all, I had to know the truth. I had to find out why he did it, why he left one day without saying goodbye. I was only five at the time. My whole childhood was agitated because one important piece of the puzzle was missing.

A father figure.

The more I thought about it, I started to panic a bit. I was about to meet a guy I hadn't seen in over fifteen years. It was ja total stoater. Honestly, I didn't even know where to look for it. It had just struck three forty and I was on my way to Heathrow Airport. Mom, however, came with me in case I changed my mind. Nothing was going to happen, but I was grateful that at least she wasn't trying to stop me. She knew it was something she should have done a long time ago. She knew this day would come someday. She certainly didn't expect me to find out this way, but it wasn't up to me.

As I got out of the taxi, I looked at the people around me. Everyone was in a hurry for the morning briefing and flight to an unknown destination. I took a deep breath and grabbed my suitcase in one hand and slung my backpack over my shoulder with the other. I looked at my mom who had a worried expression on her face. I felt her tremble as I grabbed her hand. As if she needed reassurance and support. She smiled slightly and squeezed my hand. Together we walked towards gate 56, from which the departure to San Diego was at five past six in the morning. I had only hand luggage and a backpack, and I had about an hour to check-in. I offered my mother morning coffee at a coffee shop near the gate area.

When we said our goodbyes, my mother had tears in her eyes. Involuntarily, I felt sad at the thought that I would not see her for a long time.

***

After about eleven and a half hours of flying from rainy London, I finally landed in sunny California. I felt a bit tired and sleepy even though I had slept for several hours during the flight. When I found the nearest Wi-Fi spot at the airport, I immediately called my mom on FaceTime. She had just finished work and was shopping at the most famous department store in London - Harrods. Despite my exhaustion, I forced an unconvincing smile on my face and bestowed it to my mother.

"Penny, are you okay? Have you slept at all? You look pale." Mom replied while reaching for an avocado. She looked at them from every angle, smelled them, and showed them to the phone.

"Do you think it's ripe enough?" She asked as if nothing had happened.

"Mom, do you know I'm 5,000 miles from home? How would I know that, ask the seller." I replied. Slightly annoyed, I headed towards the bathrooms and got something to drink.

"Ma'am, of course it's ripe. Only fresh products from me. Take a look. When it bends slightly under the fingers, it means it's ripe." As I walked towards the bathroom, I could hear the salesman in the background explaining the differences between ripe and unripe fruit to my mother.

"In that case, I'll have 3 pieces. Thank you. Goodbye." Mom says and gave the salesman the money.