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“It’s just…. Well, I’m scared, Emily. This is a big move. It’s my dream, but I’m still scared to move to another continent.”
“Who says you have to?” Emily said, plopping down on my bed with a smirk. “You could always stay here with Levi and your family.”
“No, I can’t, Emily. That’s the problem. There are no opportunities for an exotic animal vet in middle-of-nowhere, Utah.”
“I’m sure you could figure things out. You could travel to help private owners of exotics and–”
“No, no way. I do not believe in private ownership of exotics. It’s irresponsible.”
“Well I guess,” she mumbled.
“A lot of them end up being given away because their owners have no idea what they’re getting into. They are still wild animals, but people expect tame house cats in a larger body.”
“But you could help prevent that from happening.”
“Or I might encourage people to get more since they now have access to a vet. No, I simply can’t do that. I couldn’t ignore that an animal is being held in a cage when it should be in the wild just because their owner wants to feel badass.”
“Alright, I get it. But what does Levi think about you going all the way to Africa?”
“He’s okay with it,” I said between pursed lips.
“Really?” Emily raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, I mean, we’ve talked… we aren’t sure what we have is serious. We’re just having fun and we'll see what happens after I move. If I move.”
“Anna, I hate to pry into your romantic life, I really do… but Levi brings a spark out in you that I haven’t seen before. You just light up when you’re near him. You smile and laugh more than I have ever seen, even when you’re with me, and that says a lot because I’m funny as hell.”
I cracked a smile and sat down beside my sister. “You know, I will miss you when I leave, right? I hated being away from you in college, but this seems even bigger. And knowing that you’ll have a baby…”
“It sounds like you’re having doubts to me.”
I didn’t want to admit it out loud, but part of me was scared to leave. Not just because of Levi; he was a big part of it, but also because I had missed my family in college. I was able to travel home often so it wasn’t as bad, but it still hurt every time I left.
And while in Africa, it would be even harder to visit. I’d likely miss holidays, birthdays, weddings for friends… and if my parents got sick or something happened, it would take forever to get back here.
“There’s a lot I have to consider, Em, but I also have to consider that this is what I’ve always wanted. This is my dream. If I don’t pursue this, I will always wonder what if… and I don’t want to live like that. It’s only two years, and I can see what happens then. If I even get the job. There are still several steps, and I may get denied.”
“You won’t. You always achieve whatever you set your mind to.”
“Sure, until now. But I’m competing with people just like me. People with the same dreams, with similar academic records, who are also used to achieving everything they put their mind to. I’m up against the best of the best, Em.”
“Is it wrong that part of me hopes you don’t get it?” Emily bit her lip and wouldn’t look at me.
“Not at all,” I said with a little chuckle. “But instead of thinking about what will happen when I leave, why don’t we focus on the present. Like Summer Fest this evening. And your wedding is in two months. I’ll be here for all of that.”
“You will,” Emily said with a smile. “You’re right, let’s enjoy the present. So, what are you wearing to Summer Fest?”
“I figured jeans and a t-shirt.”
“Absolutely not. You need to look hot for Levi,” Emily told me. “Let me do your makeup.”
I groaned and fell backward on the bed, but I was smiling. “I don’t want to wear makeup, Em. It’s going to be so hot, and it will just melt right off.”
“Not with the right setting spray. Trust me. You know animals, I know makeup. That’s why I’m a cosmetologist, after all.”
My sister was already over at my vanity inspecting my inventory with a dissatisfied frown. “This won’t do…. How old is this mascara? Ewww, you definitely need to throw that away. Have you had this foundation since high school? Good thing we’re the same color…”
I laughed and rolled over on my side. I could have argued, could have told her no, but my sister loved doing other people’s makeup. It was special to her.
