I tugged at one end of the plain white bedsheet as Ariel grunted while struggling with the other end, bending at an odd angle with one foot on top of the mattress and the other flat on the floor.

"Ariel!" I sighed, exasperated and out of breath. "Wait for me to tuck in my end before going in with yours! It's not that difficult." I rolled my eyes.

"You keep saying!" She exclaimed, before abruptly releasing her end of the sheet and lifting her hands in the air. "I'm done, I need a break." She mumbled as she turned away from the bed.

I groaned. "Ariel!" I called out after her as she left through the bedroom door, but she just shook her head. "It's really not that complicated." Yet she always struggled with making her bed, incapable of lifting the heavy mattress and tucking the sheet underneath it. Even back at our old apartment I had been helping her with her bed for as long as I could remember.

But this time we had gone for a size bigger in bed. Instead of singles we had promoted ourselves to small doubles - however, now we had to deal with the consequences. It can't all be rainbows and butterflies and what-not, am I right?

With great effort and a heavy dose of patience, I managed to tuck the bedsheet in after another five minutes. Just as I had sighed contentedly and tumbled on top of the soft mattress, covered by freshly washed and floral scented sheets, my phone began to ring from down the hall.

I groaned in annoyance, rolling over the bed until I reached the end and hopped onto the floor. I walked out of my new bedroom, down the small hallway, and towards our open living room space. Ariel sat on our white couch with her eyes fixed on the TV, as my phone rang beside it.

On my way to unplug my phone from the charger beside the TV, I blocked her sight from whatever was playing on the screen and she mumbled a couple incoherent words as she shoo-ed me away. I rolled my eyes, glaring at her childish behavior, then grabbed my phone and returned to my bedroom.

Once I shut my bedroom door behind me, I glanced down at the caller ID which read the name Mom. A grin spread across my cheeks as I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear.

"Hey, Mama."

I flumped down onto my bed, my gaze fixing on the pale white ceiling and the simple silver chandelier hanging in the center of it.

"Nora! Oh, my darling. I have missed your voice." Her familiar voice sang, and it instantly warmed my heart.

"I've missed you, too. How are you guys?"

"We're doing well, darling, but never mind us now. I just read your text, what is this about moving away? When did this happen?" She questioned, concern evident in her voice.

I had decided to send my parents a text informing them of my latest decision only a couple days ago. I knew I had to settle down first before letting them know or else they might freak out about my big and sudden decision, and tempt me to cancel on the idea all together.

"Ariel and I were talking about it for a while, actually. We were in need of a fresh start; and we only got today, haven't we?" I spoke the words she repeated to me when I was young, encouraging me to leap at the first available opportunity to follow my dreams.

"Well, yes - but what about your jobs? Your apartment?"

"Ariel was able to transfer to the company branch in this city. And as for me, I will finally have the opportunity to work as a freelance graphic designer, and I've saved up enough to get me through a few months until I get a grip on. Oh, and we found a better apartment here, it's bigger and has a better view." I smiled contentedly, getting up from my seat on the bed and stopping at my wide window. It has a great view of a small park below, where children played and families gathered.

"Oh, Nora. Don't you think you might be rushing into this?" She voiced her concern.

I sighed. "I might be; but I'd rather live and make a few mistakes than overthink everything and then chicken out."

I waited for a response but the line remained silent for a few seconds too long.

"Mom?" I pulled the phone away from my ear, glancing at the screen to see that the call was still ongoing.

"That's my baby girl," a distant voice appraised proudly.

A wide grin spread across my cheeks. "Dad!" Oh, I had missed him so much.

"Hey, baby," he greeted, now his voice louder and clearer. "Your ma's just away tearing up. She's so proud of you."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, dad..."

He chuckled, his voice resonating through the line, and I instantly felt warmer on the inside.

"How are you doing? I miss you so much."

"I'm alright, pumpkin. And I miss you, too. Maybe we'll come visit your new place after our trip is over with."

"Oh, I'd love that!" I beamed. "When are you guys returning?"

"Maybe by next month."

"Perfect! Everything should be done and ready by then." I smiled.

"Well, darling, it was wonderful hearing your voice. But the ship's about to sail, so we better go. Now you take good care of yourself, you hear me?" Dad's tough façade came on, and I chuckled.

"Yes, sir. You do, too."

There came a bit of shuffling on the other end of the line, then mom's voice came through.

"Nora, darling, I'm glad you are doing what's best for you. But promise me that you will be careful and that you'll take good care of yourself."

"I promise, mom." I smiled, but rolled my eyes at the same time.

If only they knew what I was able to survive through, they wouldn't be doubting how much I could care after myself. But I could never tell them the truth, even though they were my parents, because I knew how much it would hurt and traumatize them. They deserve to live their lives now and not have to worry about their adult but magnet-of-bad-luck of a daughter.

"We love you!" My mother nearly screamed as rushing voices came from the background, followed by a loud horn. I squirmed away from the phone, but yelled back that I love them, too, seconds before the line went dead.

I chuckled to myself as I tossed my phone on my bed, now in a much brighter mood since speaking to my family, and I stalked back into the living-room where Ariel was still sat in the same spot, only this time scrolling on her phone.

"That was my parents," I announced as I sat across from her. Her head lifted up from her phone to look at me.

"Oh, how're they doing?"

"Good," I nodded. "Mom was worried I might be moving too fast with my decisions."

That sparked Ariel's interest, because she locked her phone and fixed her full attention on me.

"Do you think you are?"

I bit the inside of my cheeks, pondering over her question. At first, I was worried I might be, since I tend to overthink my decisions before I go through with them. But this experience - planning on moving out and away within days, and actually going through with the decision - sparked a feeling inside of me that was quite foreign. It gave me an adrenaline rush that made me feel like I was, for the first time in my life, living and experiencing instead of overthinking and fearing. I have had my share of regrets and mistakes, and for a long time I feared making more. But isn't that how we learn, in life? By making mistakes and regretting our choices? Because only then do we learn and rise stronger than before...

"Earth to Nora?!"

I snapped my head back up, my eyes falling on Ariel's quizzical gaze. I was so lost in my train of thought I forgot she was waiting for an answer.

"Oh, God..." she groaned. "You do regret it, don't you? You wish you never listened to me."

"No!" I interrupted quickly, my eyes widening. "I don't."

Ariel eyed me skeptically, her gaze moving across my face in search for any sign of doubt. "You don't?"

I shook my head, a small smile grazing my lips. "You know, I just told my mom I'd rather live and make a few mistakes than overthink everything and then chicken out, and I think that perfectly sums up how I feel right now." I glanced up at Ariel to see her face softening. "It was a risk I was willing to take, and so far, it's playing out surprisingly very well."

Ariel squealed, abruptly jumping up from her seat and nearly hauling me into a hug.

"Oh, I knew you wouldn't regret it!" She embraced me joyfully, full of excitement.

I chuckled, patting her shoulder twice then pulling back to look at her face. "Did you, now?"

She rolled her eyes and fell back into her previous seat.

"This is our new beginning, we will make it worthwhile."

I nodded in agreement. We will.

Suddenly my phone began to ring again, the ring tone echoing in our apartment all the way from my bedroom. I got up from my seat and headed back towards my room, huffing in aggravation - all I wanted was some rest, today had been a very long day.

When I reached for my phone, I wondered what could be so important that my parents had to call me back while in the middle of their trip. However, when I flipped the phone to glance at the screen, my heart sunk to my stomach when another name popped on the caller ID. Without wasting another second, I accepted the call and put the phone to my ear, my stomach fluttering.

"Hey," I greeted, an involuntary smile creeping up my face.

"Hello, Nora." Xavier's velvety voice boomed through the phone, wrapping itself around me in a warm embrace.

"What's up?" I tried my best to sound casual - but recently I had figured out that no matter how long I'd known Xavier for, my heart would still skip a beat at the mention of his name.

"What are you currently doing?" He asked.

I looked around my bedroom, my floor covered by several bags waiting to be unpacked. "Uhm, nothing." It can wait.

"I'd love to have you over for dinner." Xavier stated, but it sounded more like a question as he trailed off by the end of the sentence.

I grinned excitedly, "I would love to."

"Wonderful. Should I pick you up at 6?"

I hummed in response, giving my approval. Soon enough we said our goodbyes and Xavier stayed on the line for a few seconds longer, until I hung up first.

My first thought had been thank God I had showered and curled my hair earlier this morning, which meant now I could skip this part and spend the next couple hours picking my outfit and doing my make-up.

Falling to my knees by the duffel bags and back packs scattered across the floor, I began zipping them up and rummaging through.

"Ariel! I need your help!" I yelled while frantically yanking out any dresses and fancy blouses I could get my hands on and tossing them across the mattress.

"What's up?" Ariel popped her head through the door, a chocolate bar in hand.

"Help me pick out something. Xavier will be here by 6."

Her eyes suddenly widened. "You have a date?"

"Yeah," I sighed, out of breath.

Ariel suddenly squealed, jumping forward and falling to my bed, rummaging through the pile of dresses. She grabbed a black floral dress that fell a little above the knees and put it to the side, continuing through the rest.

I stopped my action. Watching my best friend go through the pile of clothes with a wide smile on her lips, helping me prepare for a date I was nervous about, brought a wide smile to my lips and warmed my heart immeasurably. I felt beyond grateful for having her by my side and all the more excited for this new journey we were going on.

"Oh, we're 'bout to have so much fun," she grinned, glancing at me from the corner of her eyes and winking creepily.

I laughed out loud, feeling the weight of my nerves evaporate, and in it's presence came a feeling my best friend never ceased to make me feel - hope for a brighter future.