Tigrotto

1. Chapter

"Zipp." Relieved, I finally zipped up my last bag. Sighing, I wiped away the drops of sweat that currently preoccupied my forehead. This had taken hours and hours. Ugh how much I hated packing. 

Still, I had to admit that the packing was worth it. A smile broke out on my face. I waited for months for the day to come, where I would travel to Italy with my Danish friend, Marie. I met Marie on an exchange I did to Denmark and where I happened to live at her house. We immediately clicked and grew very close. We both just graduated from high school and decided to do half of our gap year together in Italy. Marie had 13 years of school, which is why she is one year older than me.

 I had just turned 18 and already enjoyed my independent life to the fullest. Going on this journey, leaving my childhood home behind, would be another step of gaining more independence. I was more than ready to do this step and get to know a different country and culture. 

I myself was born in Germany, in the capital Berlin, and already visited a few places in Italy in the past with my parents. Italy was since then one of my favorite places. I loved the Italian flair and the food of course! Marie was also a very big fan of Italy, which is why we had the idea to go there for half a year after our graduation. And now tomorrow was the day of the days. We would go to Italy!

Both of us already took two weeks of Italian classes beforehand, to know the basics of communicating in Italian. We were also planning to continue classes in Italy since we both loved the language and wanted to connect to the natives better.  

Since Marie and I lived in two different countries, we agreed that we would meet up in Milan at the airport and then start our exciting journey from there together. 

"Elena! Es gibt Abendessen!" (Dinner's ready!) My mom called. I smiled at the mentioning of food and quickly went to the kitchen, where my parents were already waiting with dinner. The thought that starting from tomorrow it would at least take half a year to hear this familiar phrase again, was unsettling but at the same time also exciting. I would now have to care about myself and not rely on my parents anymore. I grew up very protected and in loving surroundings. I was an only child, which already says a lot I think. At the same time, I think exactly this protection made me now want to break out of it, to stand on my own feet. 

"Und? Bist du schon aufgeregt?" (So, Are you nervous already?) My father asked with a knowing grin on his face. He always knew how I was feeling at the moment, which could be annoying and good at the same time. 

"Es geht noch. Aber es ist schon ein komischer Gedanke morgen nicht mehr hier zu sein." (I'm not that nervous yet. But it is a weird thought to not be here tomorrow anymore.)

"Ich kann gar nicht glauben, dass unser einziges Baby ab morgen nicht mehr hier sein wird!" (I cannot believe that our only baby will not be here anymore.) My mom sniffled and wiped away a few tears that had escaped her eyes. Even though my mom had always supported me with the plan to go to Italy but it was regardlessly hard for her to let me go. 

"Nicht weinen Mama! Du weißt ich kann damit nicht umgehen!" (Don't cry, Mom! You know I can't handle your tears!) I exclaimed with a pout, rubbing her back at the same time in comfort. 

This made her laugh lightly luckily stopping her tears. 

We kept on talking and dining until late in the night where we finally went to bed.