The cold air bit at Marin's skin as she pulled her coat tighter around her,in her pocket the small leather pouch felt heavy with the money she had saved_just over a hundred Euros,enough for a taxi to Sophia's place and few days to get settled while she went in search of a job she thought.
She paused on cracked the sidewalk,fingers brushing the pouch nervously .this will be the first time she'd be completely alone in the city.and the weight in her pocket was a fragile shield against the unknown.taking a deep breath she stepped towards the street,the distant hum of traffic growing louder.
After hailing the taxi I gave the driver Sofia's house address,and we set off,as the city light blurred out past the window,I brought out my old button phone as I fumbled with the old keypad,I quickly typed a message to so Sofia: I'm on my way not really familiar with the area yet.
The engine's steady hum filled the silence,I started out at the u familiar streets,trying to calm my racing heart.Every shadow felt strange,but knowing Sofia was waiting for me made the ride less lonely.
The taxi slowed and stopped in front of a modest apartment building, its brick walls worn but welcoming. I paid the driver and stepped out, the cool night air wrapping around me. Sofia wasn't living in a fancy place—just a small, cozy apartment not far from the chapel where we'd met.
I took a deep breath and pressed the buzzer. The door opened moments later, and there she was.
Sofia stood in the doorway—tall and slim, with a tired kind of beauty that didn't scream for attention. Her blonde hair was tied in a messy bun, a few strands falling loosely over her pale forehead. Her features were gentle, almost plain, but her grey eyes were sharp, watchful, like she'd seen far more than most people her age.
"Marin!" she exclaimed, pulling me into a quick hug. "You made it."
"I did," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's... different out here."
Sofia laughed softly. "Yeah, the city's not always kind, but we manage. Come in, I've got some tea."
Inside, the apartment was simple but tidy. We settled on the worn couch, catching up on everything and nothing—the old chapel, the prayers, the dreams Sofia chased when she left. It felt like a small piece of home in the middle of this big,strange world.