As the plane touched down, Mayah Rods felt a gentle nudge on her shoulder. "Miss, can you please wake up?" a soft-spoken voice sang in her ear. Mayah opened her eyes to find a friendly flight attendant smiling at her, her bright blue uniform a stark contrast to the drab airport decor. The attendant's warm smile put Mayah at ease as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "Oh, I'm sorry," Mayah said. "Thank you for waking me up."
As she walked through the arrival gates, the warm Spanish sun on her skin was a welcome change from the chilly air-conditioned plane. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and the sound of lively chatter filled the air, invigorating her senses. Mayah felt a mix of excitement and nervousness as she thought about starting her new life in Spain. She had left behind her hometown, country, and continent to pursue her dreams of becoming a computer programmer and model. The thought of it still felt surreal, like a dream she was waiting to wake up from.
After settling into her new apartment, Mayah quickly gave her family a call back home in Zimbabwe. "Hello, Gogo," she said, trying to sound more confident than she felt. "I'm now settled." Her grandmother's voice was warm and reassuring on the other end of the line. "That's nice, don't forget to call home if anything happens."
As night fell, Mayah walked towards the window, gazing out at the twinkling city lights. The stars above seemed to twinkle in sync with her racing heart. She couldn't help but wonder how she would navigate her life in this new city. "Tomorrow is going to be a great start," she whispered to herself, the words a gentle lullaby as she drifted off to sleep.