I finally got home after the longest day, sitting on the porch swing and stretching my toes into the breeze, feeling their long-awaited freedom from the torturous heels I had to where to my graduation.

After 5 years of hard work and study I finally have my Bachelor's degree in Architecture and am finally ready to start applying for an internship. I was swinging on the porch enjoying the cool breeze when my stomach grumbled loudly and I realized I hadn't eaten anything in quite a while. After moving the entire day running errands and then sitting on the swing for just a while, my body had relaxed and I was painfully aware of all of my muscles, I sluggishly peeled myself off the swing to go into the kitchen and make some food.

I turned on the lights as I walked through my house getting to the kitchen. I took great pride in my home, it was in Washington Heights Manhattan which had low crime rates but still affordable to buy, although my parents had paid for my college I still took a job on the side in order to get the loan for my house, it wasn't fancy, in fact it was pretty run down to fit in my price range but my dad helped me fix it up and I basically decorated it from multiple second hand stores, but it was mine and I loved its comfy warm vibe and eclectic style.

The first thing I did when I got into the kitchen was look in the fridge to see what I had to cook but the only things I had was 2 week old Chinese food, eggs, milk and cheese. I ended up just making an egg and cheese sandwich and ending with a spoon of peanut butter and a glass of milk. I definitely need to go shopping. Just as I was putting everything away I heard my phone ring and ran to dig it out of the bottom of my very large purse. After sifting through tampons, car keys, lipstick and candy, in the end I decided to just dump the whole thing to find my phone. I looked at the caller ID and it was Samantha, my best friend since freshman year. I swiped up to answer as I threw my body onto the couch landing on my side with my arm wrapping down over the armrest.

"Hey Sam" I sighed under my breath knowing she is calling to drag me out to celebrate.

"Hey! Where are you at girl" Sam yelled

"Im at home, I have to get up early to start applying for internships"

At that, Sam yelled so loud that I had to actually pull the phone away to not rupture an eardrum: WHAT? NO WAY! Girl you have the rest of your life to be a workaholic, tonight we have to celebrate Graaduuaation!!! Get your ass down here, we're at Club C.

"Ugh fine, let me get changed and call a cab, ill see you soon" I hung up the phone before she could say another word. She was right though, I have worked so hard to accomplish what I have so far, I should get to celebrate it and after tonight it will be another long journey, so I should start it with a bang.

I jumped up and shook off the exhaustion from my body and turned on some good music to get ready to. I sifted through my closet trying to decide what to where, I had multiple outfits I had bought with Sam while shopping but Sam was boisterous and happy and positive and she always made me feel I could be and do more. I always wished I could be just like her so id end up buying outfits that were more her style then mine, I guess by the time it came to wear them I had retreated back into myself.

I decided I would try a little harder to not be so shy so I picked the one that was least out of my comfort zone and put it on. It was an elegant but stylish little black corset dress with an overlay of green tulle that flared gradually towards the hem along with cascading sequins that made the dress stand out. Out of all the crazy dresses I had bought with Sam this is the one I always wanted to have enough courage to wear because it went perfectly with the long red hair that I got from my dad, well not the long part, the fact is he's almost bald so lets hope I didn't get that gene, and the brown eyes I got from my mom, it also accentuated the curves of my body and made my waist look slimmer which I needed if I was going to hide the bit of extra weight I've gained from all the takeout over the years.

I was putting on the final touches of my makeup when my cab pulled up and honked. I gave myself one final look and for a moment I wanted to just retreat into myself and cancel. I used to be so much fun when I was younger but college has a way of turning you into an introvert if you're actually doing it right and taking your grades seriously. I had to have the highest grades I could in order to get the best internship after graduation. The cab honked again pulling me out of my thoughts and I closed my eyes, wrinkled my nose and shook my head to get rid of the lingering doubts about the night. Don't think about it, just go out the door, 1 2 3 GO!

I stepped outside, locked the door and cautiously headed to the cab, I hated taking cabs because you never know who is driving and its scary for a young woman especially at night but I knew I wouldn't be able to drive after clubbing and I definitely didn't want to leave my car overnight anywhere in New York. I hopped in and buckled while telling him the destination. The driver was an older gentleman with white hair and glasses wearing a sweater vest and slacks. On the dash he had pictures of what I assumed were his wife, kids and grand kids all together with smiles and happiness across their faces. He had a pleasant smile and calm demeanor that reminded me of my grandfather. I eased back into my seat feeling a little relieved he wasn't a creep, it didn't happen often but once and a great while I would have a creepy cab driver, I remember one in particular that had wispy hair even coming out of his ears and a drizzle of snot continuously dripping out of his long pointed nose, he continuously smiled and stared through the mirror with his dull gray eyes to the point I was scared of getting into an accident. He kept asking me where I lived and that he could take me home for free even though home was not my destination. I ended up waiting till he stopped at a light, throwing the fair money onto the seat and jumping out of the cab before he could take off. He yelled at me to stop but I purposely disappeared into the constant hoard of people that is New York.

"Here you're Miss" The cab driver said as he came to a stop right in front of Club C. I smiled in return while getting out of the car as I paid and said: Thank you, and also thanks for not being a creep. His eyebrows furrowed as he looked at me then a small smile appeared on his face as he said: Who says I'm not a creep. He then laughed as he drove away leaving me to question whether he was joking or not but I quickly landed on, he was.

I turned to go into Club C which was Sam's favorite place to go, it had the hottest guys according to her and from all walks of life. I walked up the steps to get in line and was met by the security guard who recognized me as Sam's friend, I had been there a few times with her but she was there every weekend and had a thing going on with the owner of the club, he quickly gestured for me to come forward and he greeted me as he let me in which of course caused all of the people behind me to irrupt in moans and groans at how unfair it was, I agree it is unfair but I wasnt about to question it, all I can do is choose not to complain the next time I'm in their situation watching someone else get in while I have to wait.

I smile at the security guard as a walk through and am met by blaring music and lights. I start pushing through the crowd of people little by little making my way to the booth that Sam always occupied assuming she is there. As I get closer there is less and less people walking in front of me and I start to see flashes of her at the booth with Tommy the clubs owner and Mike who also graduated with us, he was staring at Sam longingly as usual, as she flirted shamelessly with Tommy. Anyone who looked at the poor guy could see he was in love with Sam, that is of course except Sam herself, or maybe she just didn't want to see it. Sam had a way of always picking the wrong men and then would complain when she got her heart broken. As happy and positive as she was, deep down I think she didn't feel worthy of a good man. That probably had to do with the way she was raised, her dad was abusive to her mom and her and then when he finally went to jail she never ended up having a good male influence. That is one area I lucked out in, I have great parents both loving to each other and my brother and I, they always knew when to discipline and when to love us and its probably why I am level headed or at least I try to be.