August, the time of year when back to school ads and savings are everywhere, notebooks, pencils, pens, planners, markers, rulers are at every store. But this year Lucy was not going to high school, a change she is not sure she is ready for. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out of the car, shielding her eyes from the sudden brightness as she looked around the campus. The parking lot was filled to the brim with cars and families carrying boxes and other assortment of things. People going in and out of the dorm room buildings, hugging and saying goodbye to their families. She sighed, she did not have the large assortment of things to carry or a car full of family members crying. She just had her small Honda civic with the necessities and Vivian, her live-in nanny and housekeeper she has had since she was seven years old. Vivian was still in the car, having a fierce conversation with Autumn, who said she would make it, but claimed something came up with her boyfriend. Lucy adjusted her gaze to the building her dorm room is in, in big black lettering written across the building above the door was Freedom Hall. She looked back at Vivian and started making her way to the building. It made no sense to bother her when she is on the phone with her sister like that. Making her way through the parking lot she did her best to avoid people and made a bee line for the door. She checked her papers for room number 202, that is on the second floor. She looked around and headed over to the stairs, taking two at a time when she could. Reaching the top, she looked to her left and she saw a sign pointing that way, 200-2010. She walked to her door and noticed a small whiteboard on the door. Written in yellow and blue dry erase marker where the names Lucy and Leanora. Lucy had talked to Leanora on the phone a few times and texted. They met through the schools Facebook group and got along okay so when Leanora asked Lucy to be room roommates, Lucy did not have a good reason to say no. They both have similar schedules but vastly different majors, Leanora is a vet tech major, and Lucy is a creative writing student. Lucy opened the door and saw a very bare room. The room itself looked like a box beside the closets and small half bathroom. The bathroom was immediately to the left of the door and the closets were to both the left and the right, creating an exceedingly small hallway into the room. The back wall had some small windows and to the right and left where some tall bunk beds with desks underneath them. The room was very bear with no signs of life having entered this room before Lucy. She assumed Leanora had not arrived yet and left to get her stuff. She made it back to the car and found Vivian, finally ending the phone call with a huff and a frustrated "I love you too." She turned to Lucy and faked a smile.
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"You ready to get this show on the road Kiddo?"
"As ready as I'll ever be I guess."
"Don't be so down, you know Autumn and I are always a phone call away. Well, more so me than her but you get the point."
"Yeah, will you grab my tablet and drawing pen out of the backseat please?"
Together they gathered her stuff and slowly brought it in. It really was not a whole lot, but compared to the empty room it felt more than it was. They stood side by side and looked at their work. They neatly stacked the boxes in the room by size and contents against the back wall with a basket of clothes on top.
"Do you want me to help get it all unpacked too?"
"No, it's okay, I got it."
"Are you sure? I have plenty of time"
"Yeah, I'm sure. I'm not quite sure how I want to decorate yet."
"Okay, give me a call if you need anything. I'll answer even if it's at three in the morning."
"It was one time!"
"I know, I know. I’m just giving you shit for it. Come here and give me a hug before I leave."
"I love you, Vivian, thank you for all you've done for me."
"Of course, sweetheart. I love you too. You are like my own kid; I'd go to hell and back for you. Your mother would be so proud of you and how far you've come."
After a tearful hug Vivian left. Lucy would see her tomorrow when she brought back Lucy's car with Autumn, assuming Autumn does not bail on her. But nonetheless it was still a sad goodbye. Lucy had experience with living in dorms and being away from her family, but every time it felt more heart wrenching than the last. She turned and faced the neat mess, trying to decide how to start. She started with her clothes, hanging up shirts and folding pants. She turned back to the boxes, thinking of which one she felt was most important. Bedding, hygiene, books, electronics, etc. She started with the bedding, making her bed, and putting down her pillows. Then she moved onto the hygiene, putting her regular shower products in a small bag to take to the shower with her. She took out her books and tried to think of where to put them, there were not a whole lot of them, but space is still limited. She decided on the desk, putting them in the corner and using her cat book stand to keep them upright. She opened another box and started decorating the desk area. She put up a few posters of her favorite book and movies and photos of her friends from high school. Finally, she put up lights around the desk area. She took a step back and looked at her work. She was happy but wondered where Leanora was. She checked the time, noon, it has been about an hour since she got here. She was tired, climbing onto the bed she flopped down and laid on her back staring at the ceiling. A small nap would not hurt.