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fancy-pants political job,” Alex said.
    “Well then, that’s the beauty of Skype . We must call each other every night, no exceptions.”
    “No exceptions,” Alex agreed solemnly.
    “Thank you for an amazing vacation,” Ashley said sincerely, toasting Alex with her miniature cup and saucer.
    “Thank you for an amazing four years,” Alex said, growing tearful.
    “No tears!” Ashley declared, quickly passing Alex a napkin. “I want our parting to be a happy one. Besides, I’m already planning on coming to the Big Apple for Thanksgiving!”
    Alex smiled, excited for what lay ahead even if it was frightening in magnitude. Soon she’d be living alone and working a new job within one of the busiest cities in the world. But beyond that there was Christmas, when Alex planned to return to Woodsdale, where she would inevitably see Mark once more, and the thought of seeing him again scared her more than any of the other changes that were looming on the horizon of her future.

Part Two
     
    The sounds of New York City pulsated into Alex’s eardrums. There was the constant honking of car horns interspersed with the high-pitched squeal of a siren. It was an endless drone of noise, which didn’t stop even after she’d closed the door to her one -room apartment.
    “Dare I say, I prefer the trailer,” Andy commented as he placed a cardboard box full of Alex’s belongings onto the bare wooden floor.
    “Andy, be kind,” Jackie immediately berated her son. Then she looked around the small space herself and felt her heart drop. He had been right to state that the trailer dwelling back in Woodsdale was preferable.
    Alex’s new apartment was tiny. One square space comprised the foldaway bed , which was currently hidden in the wall, and a miniature kitchen area, which was basically a camping stove and a sink; there was no fridge. Behind a partition was a toilet and shower. It was all basic and squashed together as though a whole house had been forced to exist within someone’s hallway.
    Moving to the grime -covered window, Jackie glanced down at the street below, where they’d previously exited their yellow taxi and walked up three flights of stairs to Alex’s apartment. The building didn’t have an elevator.
    “It was all I could afford,” Alex explained, not bothered about the cramped living conditions. She’d found somewhere she could live alone, in New York , which she knew was huge. She didn’t want to be living with strangers. She’d be talking with Ashley every night anyway, so she wouldn’t feel lonely.
    “It just needs a good cleaning , that’s all.” Jackie smiled brightly. “And we’re here to help.” 
    “Thanks, Mom.”
    Alex began unpacking what few belongings she’d brought with her as Jackie commenced cleaning the apartment with the various products she’d bought back in Woodsdale. She bleached the toilet and the sink, and vacuumed the wood floors and the pull-down mattress before turning her attention to the window. If her daughter had to live somewhere so small and shabby, at least it would be clean, she told herself as she scrubbed furiously.
    Andy helped his sister unpack , lifting heavier items for her like her duffel bag and boxes filled with books.
    “You’ve got an iPad!” he exclaimed as he delved into one of the boxes, retrieving the electronic device and looking at it admiringly.
    “Yeah, Ashley bought it for me so we could talk each night,” Alex explained.
    “Must be nice to have rich friends .” Andy raised his eyebrows.
    “Is it expensive?” Jackie asked suddenly, ho ming in on their conversation.
    “No,” Alex answered whil e at the same time her brother said the opposite.
    “Well, which is it?” Jackie demanded.
    “They cost a couple hundred bucks,” Andy told her.
    “Alex, you can’t keep something so expensive here,” Jackie said, lowering her voice as if potential thieves were already listening in on them. “It’s not safe.”
    “I’ll keep it with