I'm Not a Princess

"Ma'am? Miss? Wake up, now."

Avery stirs and jerks awake in surprise. Blinking, she notices the woman who was lightly shaking her. The woman gives her a polite smile. "Hello, hon. Everyone's getting off. Just thought I'd help you out here. Everything all right?"

Numbly Avery looks around, and sees indeed that she is correct. Everyone is stretching and standing, pulling out their bags. "Oh. Well, thanks," Avery blushes slightly, embarassed at having fallen asleep.

"No problem, hon," the woman smiles and turns back to her own bags.

Avery collects her backpack and returns the book she'd been reading to her bag. Standing, she gets in line to get off, keeping a firm hold on her bag, just in case. Like it's her lifeline.

Breathless, she steps off the plane and her sight falls on the land outside. Slightly dry and pretty windy at the moment.

I'm really here. L.A., California. Pretty much the other side of the country, really. Wow...

Avery shifts her backpack again- a new nervous habit- and finds her way to the conveyor belt with luggage coming out on it. People are crowded all around, so she waits a little farther back, biding her time and shifting her weight on her feet, avoiding the many bodies.

When there's enough space, she steps forward and soon finds her nondescript suitcase, and pulls it off. There, she has most of her clothes, along with toiletries and one pair of shoes other than the pair she's wearing. It's in her backpack where she carries her two favorite books, five favorite cd's, and all of her personal favorite items, like a photo frame or two, her cell phone, and the like.

Lugging her two bags with her, she steps outside of the airport, taking a deep breath of fresh air. At last.

Again she opens her eyes, looking around at the bustling city. Not much around at the moment, she knows, but it's a start. Her eyes roam the parking lot and the many taxi's. It's obvious to see that it would take forever to get around and out.

And so, she begins walking.