Chapter 16: "First Steps in a New World"

The day that was scheduled for Alex’s move to Seattle seemed to be perfect for the script of a movie. The sky was of the clearest blue, and there was not a single cloud to disturb the beauty of the day. The warmth of the air was barely there, but it was suggesting the coming of summer. This new start was as if the whole world was coming together to say that it was okay to start over again. Taylor woke up with the sun, although she did not have a sound sleep. Restlessness and expectations kept her awake most of the night. This time, as she moved through the apartment that she was going to be sharing with her soon-to-be husband, her adrenaline was a mix of happiness and anxiety. The social gathering the previous night had been quite spirited. Taylor had cleaned every spot in the house, from the floor to the ceiling, as well as arranged everything in the house in anticipation of Alex’s arrival. Now, in her morning solitude, she looked at her work critically. The apartment was clean as