The day I drove across the country to start a new life I learned how to accept my past, take on new challenges and plan for the future. It was a snowy February day. The snow had started to come down harder, the ice was thickening on the roads and I had an anxious puppy in the car. Just a few months before everything was very different. I had a solid job, what I had thought was happiness, and a great home. When she decided to leave my world turned upside down. Now I was sitting in my Nissan; trunk piled high of loose clothes, and random knick knacks I had collected over the years. She was never the love of my life but I had made her my world. I had built a life around her and all of that meant nothing when I looked into the snow. I threw my cigarette out the car with a burned photo of her and left to start a new life. Colorado was never in my previous plans but it became one very quickly.
…show more content…
I had visited once, only a few weeks before I had left. I had sold most of my stuff to even afford a flight ticket to check it out. I only knew two people in Colorado. I had met them while I was stationed in Germany, they were my adoptive parents. They took me in when I had no one. I never had a great relationship with my actual parents. I had come out as transgender when I was 20 and ever since things had gone downhill. These two individuals not only listened but they let me stay for a month or two when I first got to the state. When I visited I had felt like I was at home. They took me to Manitou Springs, I met people that understood my circumstances and welcomed me. Being, a transgender man I never really felt safe, especially in North Carolina. I was always afraid of being found out about and when I got to Colorado I was welcomed for being myself. My adoptive parents helped me come out of my shell to make this move. When I started to drive it didn’t seem real. Mostly because I had been in a daze for about a month before I decided to leave. I was completely numb of feeling. I was broke, my utilities had been cut off and I had to stay with a friend to keep my dogs warm. I managed to sell most of the apartment for a measly 300 dollars. I had hoped it was enough for some fast food and most of my gas. When I got to the boarder an older woman accidently slid into the back of my car. It startled my dogs and the damage was slim to none. I was thankful no one was hurt and she apologized. She asked me about my circumstance, glancing over to my over packed car and whining dogs. I explained that even though the weather was bad I had to keep moving. She wished me luck and I was on my way. It was embarrassing but what else could I say, my whole life didn’t make any sense. To this day I still think North Carolina tried to swallow me whole and kill me. I had tried multiple times to get out of that state. I hit Tennessee and stayed with some long lost cousins for a few days. It was awkward at first, I hadn’t spoken to
I had visited once, only a few weeks before I had left. I had sold most of my stuff to even afford a flight ticket to check it out. I only knew two people in Colorado. I had met them while I was stationed in Germany, they were my adoptive parents. They took me in when I had no one. I never had a great relationship with my actual parents. I had come out as transgender when I was 20 and ever since things had gone downhill. These two individuals not only listened but they let me stay for a month or two when I first got to the state. When I visited I had felt like I was at home. They took me to Manitou Springs, I met people that understood my circumstances and welcomed me. Being, a transgender man I never really felt safe, especially in North Carolina. I was always afraid of being found out about and when I got to Colorado I was welcomed for being myself. My adoptive parents helped me come out of my shell to make this move. When I started to drive it didn’t seem real. Mostly because I had been in a daze for about a month before I decided to leave. I was completely numb of feeling. I was broke, my utilities had been cut off and I had to stay with a friend to keep my dogs warm. I managed to sell most of the apartment for a measly 300 dollars. I had hoped it was enough for some fast food and most of my gas. When I got to the boarder an older woman accidently slid into the back of my car. It startled my dogs and the damage was slim to none. I was thankful no one was hurt and she apologized. She asked me about my circumstance, glancing over to my over packed car and whining dogs. I explained that even though the weather was bad I had to keep moving. She wished me luck and I was on my way. It was embarrassing but what else could I say, my whole life didn’t make any sense. To this day I still think North Carolina tried to swallow me whole and kill me. I had tried multiple times to get out of that state. I hit Tennessee and stayed with some long lost cousins for a few days. It was awkward at first, I hadn’t spoken to