Sometimes, well, all the time, I missed what my life used to be. It had only been a week here at the new house but it felt like it had been years! The neighbors were always grumpy and seemed annoyed with everything and everyone. Interactions with them were like talking to walls. Everyone had perfect lawns and dressed up nice. I certainly didn’t fit in here. I worried that my parents would become like the neighbors when they started their new jobs, uninteresting and concerned only with their own affairs. “Don’t ever end up like that,” I told myself. 

“Mom, I’m heading out,” I called, grabbing my coat and running out the door. I had just learned to drive, but big city driving was nothing like driving in my hometown. People were hostile and in a hurry. I preferred to walk, or bike, or take the bus. 

My mom ran after me and handed me my phone. “Anna, you have to tell me where you are, okay? This city is much bigger and more dangerous than you’re used to.” 

Mom began to say something else, but I didn’t want a mom-lecture right now, “I know, bye!” I quickly cut her off, hopped on my bike, and left. My neighborhood was in a nice little pocket where it didn’t necessarily feel like you were in the middle of a big city. Once you’ve passed all the nice houses and perfect lawns, there were big, ominous buildings everywhere you looked. The weather was always mild and grey, like we were surrounded by an unmoving cloud. It definitely didn’t feel like summer break. Occasionally there was a glimpse of sun but it was always quickly blocked, just like the people here. Emotions were quickly swallowed by the looming cloud of serious responsibilities that consumed the lives of people here. Everyone was stuck. 

I rode right up to a little bakery sitting nestled between two old, run-down buildings. The light and life they once had was shaded by the cloud, but the little bakery was still up and running. Just looking at it made me smile. It was a little, old-fashioned house, renovated into a business. Its sunny yellow exterior was a nice break from the glum, grey buildings it was surrounded by. I hopped off my bike and decided that the few dollars in my wallet would be well-spent on a pastry, maybe some coffee if I had enough money. That lovely fresh bread smell rushed out the door when I pushed it open. The warm air reminded me of when I used to bake bread with my mom. Opening that door was the same feeling as opening the oven when the bread was done. 

“Welcome!” A sweet voice greeted me with a smile from behind the counter. I felt my own smile grow wider when she smiled at me. That was the first genuine smile I’d received since I moved to this emotionless city. “What can I get you today?” 

I was so mesmerized by the warm atmosphere that I hadn’t even glanced at my food options yet. I was just enjoying every moment of looking around and breathing in the air. “Ummm…” I began, looking at all of my choices. Making decisions was not my strongest skill. “What do you recommend? I just moved here and I don’t really know much.” The girl behind the counter looked about my age, probably seventeen. I liked her a lot. I liked genuine people. She pondered my question, looking at all of the food just as hard as I did. After a moment, she recommended me the chocolate croissant, which I happily ordered. “And what about a coffee drink? What’s the best one?”

When my food was ready, I walked to a table to eat. The way the girl behind the counter interacted with other customers intrigued me. I think I liked her so much because she reminded me of my best friend that I left behind when I moved. I wondered how she stayed so positive living under the cloud. I wondered how she lit up this little bakery, if she lit up other places she went? Every moment of my croissant and coffee was enjoyable, and I watched people come and go from the little sunny bakery. 

For weeks, I made the bakery my daily destination. It was the only place that felt a little like home. Emilia, the girl behind the counter, had become my first friend. “Anna!” she greeted me with the smile I loved so much. Chocolate croissant and a latte was my go-to and she was well aware of that by now. I made sure to arrive at the end of Emilia’s work shift so we could chat for a while.

“How’s your day been? I love your hair!” I started eagerly, admiring her new curls. 

“Oh thanks,” she responded, shaking her head a little so her curls moved. “It took me so long. I almost didn’t make it to work on time.” Her face became a little less bright. “I’m leaving for college soon, so planning and packing has been eating up lots of my time.”

I wanted to be happy for her and congratulate her, but she was my only friend here. Now she was leaving. She was the only thing that made me feel like I wasn’t living under the cloud. “What’m I gonna do without you?” I asked, putting my forehead on the table. I knew this was not the reaction I should be having but I felt like my world was crumbling for the second time. “You’re the only genuinely friendly person I’ve met since I moved to this city,” I mumbled, my head still pressed against the table. “Everyone’s too busy and tired and stressed to give a shit about anyone else.”

Emilia placed a hand on my shoulder. “Hey, Anna. Give people a chance. Ask them questions. Sometimes people need to be shown that they can take some time out of their day to be friendly. You just have to give them the opportunity to realize that you’re a nice person. They’re probably just like you. They don’t think you want to talk to them either.” Her confidence and ability to just hold it together and be so rational always amazed me. 

“I know,” I mumbled again and lifted my head up. “But no one even smiles at me or says hi like you did when I first came in here.”

“That’s your job then. Be the one who smiles and says hi.” Emilia stood up and grabbed her things. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Anna. Have an awesome afternoon. Make a new friend!” She waved at me as she walked out of the little sunny bakery. Emilia’s words replayed in my head over and over as I watched her leave. I was going to miss her. After I cleared my table, I got up to leave. On the way out I crossed paths with someone I didn’t know. “Good morning,” I said with a smile. 

“Good morning,” they smiled back.