Breakthrough.

Let's face it. Graduating broke my heart. As Ainsley described so well, all of our excitement for the next stage of our lives was masked by a deep sadness for all we were leaving behind. And it broke my heart. I rode around Baton Rouge wondering when I would feel better. I cried at the drop of a hat. Brian has been working from 3 to 11 everyday, so I have had too much alone time for a broken-hearted girl. Last Monday night, I got lost trying to take Brian dinner. I called to tell him where I was and he asked, "How did you end up there?" And I promptly burst into tears and replied, "I'm a small-town girl riding around at night in a big city alone!! That's how!!" Honestly.

Then Tuesday afternoon came, and I had The Breakthrough. I went to Jamie's to spend the afternoon, and seeing her instantly made me feel a little better. I was reminded of the sweet people who will make up my new life here in the BR. She gave me a Diet Coke and I almost started to cry. It was like this magic Diet Coke. We went outside and sat and talked all afternoon, and I broke through. I was finally able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It was just so familiar in such a good way- sitting and talking with a friend over Diet Coke.

AAAAnnnnndddddd guess who left Jamie's and navigated all the way to the sushi place without getting lost or crying?? ME! I made it all the way to Brian at work with hot sushi because I didn't waste anytime having to turn around! We sat outside and enjoyed our sushi and I was a new person.

On Wednesday, Brian and I went to Jamie's to sit by the pool. Guess what she had waiting?

Yep... a case of Diet Cokes, my favorite candy, bridal magazines, and a precious letter about her excitement that I'm moving to Baton Rouge. So even after B went off to work, the sun shown bright as two brides-to-be laid by the pool, ate Sour Patch watermelons, read bridal mags, and sipped on DC's.

Friends came over that night, and Jamie made spaghetti. We ate and watched Modern Family and just had so much fun. Then only Jamie, Whitney, and I remained. We talked and talked and then went out for yogurt. It was perfect. Even without Brian around, I have friends here... and the really good and sweet kind that make me feel so loved.

I still miss my sweet girls deeply, but how I am loving our funny and frequent texts that update each other on the ins and outs of our daily lives! Here's to keeping glued to one another via technology and to midnight drives across the country because someone needs someone. We'll do what we have to do to stay close. We just will. Amy was alone and sad on her birthday, so Anna jumped in the car and drove to surprise her. It's stuff like that... driving to surprise a sad one, talking through my pitifulness over a cold Diet Coke... that let me know we're going to be okay. And we're going to be close.

I had The Breakthrough.

And I will figure out how to navigate my way around this city.

Even though I will always be a Mississippi girl, and you will always be able to tell.

Rachel