In Sickness and in Health

Two ~Rome~

I'm renting my first apartment, I am 23 years old and I'm FINALLY moving out of my parents house. I mean, they didn't have a problem with me living at home. I was working and saving money for an apartment or some sort of house. I finally got there but now it's a matter of moving. I'm moving to a completely different state. I grew up in California but I wanted a fresh start, away from all of my exes, all of the old friends, everything. I mean part of why i'm moving so far is because my best friend Josh and his sister Nia are moving and i can't bear parting from my best friend, i didn't really mind his sister that much she's quite a few years younger than me and we've only ever spoken a few times, she has her life and i have mine. Along with the fact that I don't want to be another invasive big brother to her, she's already got Josh who suffocates her enough. But of course they had to choose the state I would've never thought of, it's on the complete opposite side of the country, goddamn Michigan. Yeah, the state that has the most bipolar weather ever. I've been to Michigan a few times, i actually went to tour the colleges there and had debated it for a while, but i just had to go right in the switch between winter and spring, one of the days i was touring it was 70℉ and the other day was 45℉. Let's just say I was not prepared for that.
I ended up going to college in California instead, I stayed with my parents so I wouldn't have to pay an excessive amount for housing. I graduated from Stanford last year. I wanted to go to culinary school but my parents insisted I go to school for something "useful" . I'm sorry, what? How is cooking NOT useful??? So instead I got my business major, I mean at least I know I can start my restaurant i've wanted to start for years now. When you look at me you wouldn't expect me to be the kind of guy who wants to open a restaurant or go to culinary school, in fact i look the exact opposite, tall, muscular, black hair, and tattoos, the typical "bad boy" or "jock" but that's never really been me. I've loved cooking since my grandma taught me when I was 6 years old, part of the reason I love cooking so much now is because its a way for me to feel close to my grandma, she passed away last year right after i graduated due to covid, it was terrible seeing her in so much pain. After she died I had fallen into a dark hole that was almost impossible to get out of, I didn't want to be in that place, it made me feel worthless and like I'd never have a purpose in life. One day I was in my bed just staring at the ceiling and trying to process everything when my phone had gone off. I had looked over at it to see that it was a message from Josh, he'd sent me the number to the therapist's office down the road. I don't know what clicked in me that day but when I opened that text, I didn't say anything back but instead called the office and made my first therapy appointment. Safe to say this therapist has helped me in tremendous ways, not just by giving me ways to cope with my grandma's death but also helping me figure out how to navigate life and overcome the dark thoughts.
The day I got that text from Josh was the day I knew I'd found my future best man for my wedding, I mean I already knew it was going to be him but that was the thing that solidified it. We've been best friends since the third grade. we have done everything with each other since the day we met, i remember the first day of third grade walking into my new school and feeling like I wasn't going to fit in, when that tiny blonde boy with big bright blue eyes came across the classroom and welcomed me, he offered me a seat next to him and surprisingly the teacher allowed that. I like to think that Josh walking up to me that day was a gift from God.
It's funny to think that me and Josh became friends 14 years ago, he's been the one person who would listen to me about my grandma's death. Every time I brought it up to my parents they would just shut me down. Now don't get me wrong, I love my parents endlessly but they weren't exactly the best parents. Sure they met the bare minimum but they didn't exactly care for me in any other ways, they didn't check in with my mental health, they didn't check in to see how my friendships were, they didn't take interest in anything I had to say when it wasn't about school. My Family has always been an academic family, they don't care about hobbies or interests outside of things that will get you into a good college, thankfully now that I'm an adult and finally moving out and away so I don't have to worry about them too much anymore.
I've finally got all my boxes packed and put into the moving truck. Josh and Nia went out to Michigan a couple days earlier than me so they could get things moved into their apartment, it's almost time for me to head out for the 2 day drive. I loaded the last box into the truck and went back into the house to say goodbye to my parents. I walked into the kitchen where both of my parents were, they were reading the paper and eating the breakfast i made for them, i walked up and hugged them then said "Hey mom, dad, i'm about to head out, i love you both" my mom looked at me with tears in her eyes and said "i love you too honey, call us throughout the trip so we know you're safe and let us know when you get there safely" "i will mom, and i promise i'll be back to visit soon" i then looked at my dad and held out my hand for him to shake it, my dad grabbed my hand but then surprised me by pulling me in for a hug. Shocked, I said "I love you dad, take care of mom please. I'll let you know when I get there." "I love you too Rome, don't get into too much trouble in Michigan or I won't hesitate to fly there and kick your ass" my dad had said that last bit in a joking tone, the first time he's said anything like that to me with the intent of it being a joke.
I get into the truck and connect my phone to the bluetooth, i put in the directions to the apartment complex and put on my seatbelt before pulling out of the driveway, i take one last look at my childhood home in the rearview mirror as i pull out onto the main street. I take a deep breath and prepare myself for this long ass drive. Before getting onto the hallway I pull into a gas station to fill the tank, I run into the store and buy a few snacks and a couple of energy drinks. After I filled the tank and got in the car I texted Josh.