"Must you leave? You can find a job in Florham also."
Shirley said in a low voice. Her eyes were filled with tears, there was a deep sadness in those eyes.
Leslie sighed.
"I have to, Shirl. You know about my dreams, I've worked day and night tirelessly for this. And when the opportunity finally knocked the door, I can't let it slip away."
Shirley sat quietly. She knew everything about Leslie, her struggles and hardworks. And finally they were being paid off. She was also happy for that, but!
Deep down, she didn't want to let her best friend go miles away from her.
After sitting quietly for some minutes, she spoke.
"After leaving, you won't forget me?"
Leslie laughed inside.
Forget her! Does she know that she is the only friend that Leslie made in her lifetime! She is the only person with whom she shared her everything, she had always been more than a best friend to her, and will be!
"Forget you! Shirl, this is something that's never gonna happen in my lifetime!"
She stopped.
"And one more thing. I'm just moving to a new city, not a new country where you can't go ever! Once I'm settled, I'll give you my address, you can come to me any day, any time! More over, it's an era of technology, we can literally talk and see each other everyday, right!"
Shirley nodded.
"Okay. Then promise me, you won't forget me!"
Leslie smiled and hugged her tightly.
"Never. You'll always be my best friend, no one can replace you. And you know, I'm a woman of her words!"
Shirley hugged her back. "Okay, I believe you."
They both smiled.
A mail was being seen on the screen of the laptop opened a little away.
"Acceptance Letter for Class of 2024".
....
"Les, ready?"
Leslie was getting ready in her room, suddenly she heard a knock on the closed door. Shirley entered the room in a while.
"Almost" She replied.
After applying the sunscreen she put it in the bag, then finally took a good look of her room. Suddenly, she felt a pain in her chest.
Her address was going to be changed from today! The room in which she spent so many years was no longer her. Suddenly a wave of nostalgia washed over her.
The orphanage where she spent her entire childhood, had a rule. All the residents had to move out once they were eighteen. After their eighteenth birthday, they didn't get to stay in the orphanage. Everyone knew this rule since they started living there, so before the eighteenth birthday everyone had to arrange their place of living.
Leslie was also aware about it. Since she was sixteen, she started working. On her eighteenth birthday, she moved in this apartment, she was living alone at that time. With the savings of her tireless efforts of two years, she paid her first installment. She literally started her life here, a life where she was her only guardian. She spent months here alone, before Shirley moved in with her.
This apartment saw her grew up. It saw her transformation, from a weak orphan to a stubborn independent woman.
Leslie never thought that leaving this place would ever hurt. But today, when she was leaving, it hurt. Only today she got to know, how much place this place held in her heart ,how many memories she had in this small apartment - from mental breakdown to late night snacks party, from crying alone to laughing with Shirley until her stomach ache; those are countless.
"Les, listen."
Shirley's words pulled her back from her thoughts.
"Now that you're gonna live alone, remember some things.
Eat in time, at least three meals everyday. Sleep well and don't overwork. Remember to have something sweet with you always, your sugar level falls drastically sometimes. Always store some dry foods in the house, never sleep with empty stomach. Don't stay outside till late night, come back early. And..."
Leslie pressed her cheeks.
"Okay okay! I'll remember everything. And besides, if I forget, you'll call me to remind, won't you?"
"Shirley smiled.
"Of course. Now let's go, the cab has arrived."
Leslie took her luggage. It was not much, a trolly bag, one big duffle bag and a backpack. She took only the important things with her and left the utensil and some other things for Shirley.
After sitting in the cab, it started moving towards the station. Leslie looked outside. Florham, her very well known city- the bustling roads, high-rise towers, tall buildings, parks and and malls, the cafeteria where she worked, the offices where she had done her internships; where she spent twenty two years of her life; her best friend; she was leaving behind everything.
She was happy and excited for her upcoming new journey, but also sad and nostalgic for her old life. It was a bittersweet feeling that couldn't be described in words.
Soon the cab reached the station. They went inside and settled in a row of chairs. Shirley took her hands and spoke.
"Take care of yourself Les. Don't forget yourself which chasing your dreams. And...
If you ever feel down, just call me. Okay?"
"Okay."
They sat together until the arrival of the train was announced.
"C'mon, give me a hug."
Shirley told her in a trembling voice. The tears she tried to hold since morning, was now flowing down.
Leslie's eyes were also not dry. She hugged her tightly.
"Take care of yourself too. And, don't miss me so much."
"I won't. Anyways, you're always just a call away."
They smiled. Leslie boarded the train. The door closed, and it started moving. Through the glass she saw Shirley waving at her.
The train now picked up speed. Leslie sank in her seat.
"Goodbye, Florham. I'll miss you."
She murmured.
Leaving her very familiar city, Florham behind, the train ran towards her destination - Brixton; the city where the upcoming chapters of her life were waiting for her to be written.