When time had finally come to say his goodbyes he cried in the arms of his bestfriend they had known each other since birth. Leaving all this behind was hard for him and going to a strange foreign land even harder. He had met a couple American tourists when they came to explore their village . Some had astonishing arms filled with tattoos and some had long brightly colored hair braided with beads. He brushed his dirty blonde hair out of his eyes as he looked up at the humongous Paris Airport. The entire flight he could feel his heart pounding against his chest. When they finally landed he felt mighty relieved.
All he could do was stare out the taxi window at the buildings taller than anything he had ever see . It really was a sight to behold for him. Edwin clung onto his fathers arm the entire time. When they finally reached their apartment he realized it was much smaller than his home back in France . There was one small bedroom and a crammed kitchen and living room the walls had a depressing off white color and the stench was almost unbearable. He didn't say anything as he knew his father had worked very hard to come to New York. Besides it was only his father and him who would live there.
He soon grew very lonely with no one at school wanting to be his friend and his dad constantly working. One day it was raining and he didn't have an umbrella he sat back in school a single tear escaped his eye . Suddenly a girl stood over him with an umbrella. He was very confused. He knew the girl , her name was Alia she was one of the most popular girls in his school her skin was slightly tanned and she had long thick black hair. In broken English he asked her why she was waiting for him. She smiled and let out a small chuckle . She told him that she had noticed him for quite a few days and wanted to be friends. He was taken aback. with disbelief in his tone he asked her if she was joking. She sighed and told him she was like him once she was new to school from a different country and no one wanted to be her friend . She said she would have done anything just to have a friend or one person who took notice of her. Edwin smiled at her and they walked back home together.
By the time they had reached Edwin's home it had stopped raining. Before he could go enter his house. Alia hastily grabbed him by the arm and asked him if he wanted to hangout. It was scary for him but he trusted Alia and was old enough to explore the city. He aggressively shook his head and alia smiled widely . She knew the best cafes and spots . He started at the seats in the cozy cafe , who knew such a warm and homely place could exist amidst a cold and busy city like New York. Alia dragged him through beautiful parks and scary streets . Everything had its own magical charm. He realized New York really was the city of wonder .
After a long day at work Edwins's father had finally reached home. New York hadn't been kind to him or his son. Surprisingly when he came home his son wasn't down or in a dismal mood. He was smiling . It was a true and wide smile. "Good day at school?", asked
Edwin's father. He nodded and told him all about Alia. When looking at his smiling, happy and hopeful boy Edwin's father realized coming to new York had been absolutely worth it.
