New Short Stories

Journey of Uncertainty: Navigating Young Adulthood

Caught between the daunting uncertainties of adulthood, Briar's inner turmoil mirrored the struggles of countless young adults. As she grappled with homesickness, college decisions, and financial pressures, her journey of self-discovery unfolded amidst the backdrop of her daily routine. Join Briar as she navigates the complexities of early adulthood, seeking purpose and direction in a world filled with endless possibilities.

SELF-CARE

Renee Wright

9/10/20248 min read

a woman sitting at a desk with a laptop and a laptop

"Dad, are you awake?" Briar whispers into the phone, breaking the silence of Monday morning. Feeling cold morning breeze flows through the open window, she clutched her covers a little closer.

Dad's warm voice over the phone filled with concern. ""Hey, B. Why are you up so early? I'm not used to hearing from you during the week. Is everything okay? "" The news anchor's voice echoed through the receiver.

" Yeah," Briar said, her voice a whisper as her longing for home grew more substantial. "I missed you."

"Uh, I didn't quite get that. You don't sound like yourself," the deep voice noted, laced with concern for his baby girl. "Are your college plans coming along? Have you sent off your applications yet?"

"It's going well," she murmured, hoping to suppress the fears that would escape her lips. The young adult did not want to talk about college. Her stained relationship with her father since her mother's passing was apparent.

"Why don't you come home for a visit?" he suggested.

"" I can't make it," she replied. I have work. We can plan something in a few months." There was a moment's silence. It hung between them. Mom would know what question to ask. She always knew what to say, Briar thought to herself.

"I wanted to hear your voice," Briar said, her flaw showing. I miss you, Dad." The young girl said holding the phone tighter. She wanted to say, "I miss Mom," but it didn't come out that way.

""Kiddo, I miss you," he said. "I am proud of you for living on your own. It is not easy, but I am certain you can handle it. Remember that I am here for you, okay?""

"Dad," her heart raced as she looked down at the screen. "I have to go." She ended the call, feeling both relief and regret.

Her frequent homesickness weighed on her. The difficult decision regarding her college major bore down on her. Her father offered to pay for most of her education. Using funds from her mother's death insurance only added to the pressure.

He had paid off the house and assured Briar she could attend college, agreeing to cover the expenses for three years. This was all he had saved for her education. She didn't want to waste it, feeling it would be disgraceful.

It was the beginning of another work week. Briar prepared for work, feeling overwhelmed by the upcoming tasks.

"Good morning," she said to her roommates that frosty autumn morning. "What are you guys up to?"

They didn't respond because they were busy getting ready for work. Briar sat at a small round kitchen table. The girls moved around in their morning routine, they had practiced it for months since they all woke up at the sametime weekday mornings.

"I'm feeling down this morning," Briar said, her voice raising.

Lavender paused as she pressed the start button on the coffee maker. ""What's wrong? Don't you like living here?"" Her brow raised.

Briar said nothing initially, suppressing, feeling homesick and overwhelmed. The decisions regarding her future, made her unable to articulate her true feelings. "No, that's not it." She couldn't quite express her worries. Her roommates stared at her in confusion.

Lavender leaned in, hugged her friend, and sat at the table. "The seasonal changes can affect your mood, you know," she said.

Sage chimed in from the kitchen counter. Attempting to twist the stubborn jar of strawberry jam. ""Speak for yourself! Getting cut off after last week's family dinner messes with my vibes. It's not just the season. Think of my credit card; makes me feel like crying."

Lavender ignored Sage and continued, "But you must push past. You know, move forward. I prioritize my mental health and well-being. It's the only way to manage stress and anxiety, with healthy practices like yoga and meditation." The redhead's focus shifted as the coffee machine chimed three times.

"Are you sure that's the way to go?" Briar felt the tears threaten. "They come back stronger whenever I push my emotions." Briar cleared her throat.

"It's been working for me,"" Sage said, dislodging the lid. "I set achievable goals and milestones to work towards. I don't hesitate to seek support from friends and family. Professional help when I must.""

Briar didn't feel any better after her conversation with her roommates.

The young woman got up to join her roommate's morning routine. She packed her lunch and continued getting ready for work. Her bus would arrive in several minutes.

The cycle continued as the mahogany-skinned girl took the 7 am bus. Another Monday at her thankless job was all she had to look forward to.

The burden of feeling stuck was heavy on her young shoulders. She had not yet experienced the life she had imagined for herself. Her bank account fluctuated as bill after bill got paid. But her future remained bleak.

Running behind the pack reminded her that her life was going nowhere.

She wondered as she looked out the window of the intercity bus. The people on the surrounding bus were half asleep or didn't make eye contact. They seemed aware that she was on a path to nowhere.

College was her only escape from this situation. But the number of career options was overwhelming. Should she be a lawyer or an interior designer? Human sciences or health science? What was the right path? She sat on the bus, hoping she'd decide sooner rather than later. She wasn't sure how many more days she could take of this.

An older man entered the small restaurant. Passing, the young woman mopped the restaurant's grimy tiles. He was a regular. Briar couldn't determine why he chose this hole in the wall for coffee. There was a petite cafe two doors down that served better brew.

"Good morning." The older gentleman was as cheerful as usual.

Briar muttered something unclear. She wasn't feeling friendly this morning.

The man ordered his coffee and sat before Briar. The young worker was about to mop that exact spot.

"You look down this morning," the older voice said.

"It's been a long morning."

"It would help to discuss it."

The young girl paused, wondering why this man was talking to her. Is he a pimp or something more sinister?

"No." Her response was direct but spiritless.

"You know what, young lady? Chinwags with a stranger are free." The man sipped his coffee. ""I have time to listen. I'm an excellent listener.""

In a TED Talk titled "The Why you Should Talk to Strangers," Kio Stark states that interactions with strangers can make it easier to open up as there are no long-lasting effects. Knowing we'll never see a person again can make getting something off our chest easier.

The idea of expressing her doubts to this man sounded great. But should she share her worries, anxieties, and fears? What if he laughs at her? Briar mopped another square tile. She had been cleaning the same tiles daily for the past two months. It had yet to be spotless. Something would have to change.

Looking across at the man, the ebony-skinned girl decided to speak her mind.

""Sir, living with my roommates has been quite the experience. They know what they want to do with their lives. I'm working at this restaurant. I made a mistake and ended up going in the wrong direction. And I don't know how to get back."

The older man smiled, radiating wisdom. But remained silent, prompting Briar to continue.

""Choosing a career is overwhelming. Do I decide the rest of my life by flipping a coin? It's not picking dinner. This will affect the rest of my life." the young adult could hear panic rising in her voice. "Will I choose the right job? Is this the right career for me?" She motioned to the mop handle in her hand. "I have many options, but everyone keeps telling me I must choose one. I am 19 years old.""

She couldn't keep the words from pouring out like rapids. ""I miss my old life. I miss my mom. I only had to worry about doing the dishes before my dad got home. I miss my homework.""

The gentleman chuckled, which made the young girl snap out of her downward spiral.

""You are not supposed to know what you want to do until retirement. At 19, 30, 40, or even 50 years old." He stated as he sipped the lukewarm drink. "You choose what you want to do for the next ten years. Then you re-access it. If you want to change careers, go for it. You won't know what you'll like until you try it."

Briar struggled to comprehend the older man's wisdom as tears welled up.

"Have a seat," he said, gesturing to the one before him.

The emotional girl accepted the seat offered, grabbing a napkin from the holder, unable to hold back her tears.

""You will have many decisions to make in your lifetime. Each choice will lead you to a new experience. But that doesn't mean things will be good."" the silver-haired man gestured towards the restaurant.

""You may not have chosen this career to work in. But your previous actions have led you here. It is not a bad thing. You are learning duty and proper work ethics. The trick is to apply what you've learned in each chapter of your life to the next."" Continued the wise man.

""To make informed college decisions. Research different majors and career paths based on your interests. Incorporate your future goals. Speak with academic advisors. Experts in various fields. Find alums to learn more about different academic programs. Look into internships to gain experience in your desired fields of study.""

Briar felt better as the conversation went on.

"You may wonder why I have coffee here every morning." He looked up from his coffee. ""That's because I own this restaurant. I started working here in the 1980s, before your birth. Then, after working here and paying for school, I quit. Then started a corporate job. I made a lot of money and entered the restaurant business. Then I purchased this place.""

Briar felt embarrassed by her actions in front of her boss, so she began to get up from her seat.

""Please stay seated," he said, smirking. "I felt the same way you do regarding working here; I hated every day. You are not supposed to enjoy your first job. That is the secret. But you're supposed to learn from it. You've realized that you don't want to work in fast food. See, you've made a life decision,"" he grins. ""You might not work here for the next ten years. But you might decide to stay in the time it takes to attend college."

"I'm not fired then," She asked, avoiding his eyes.

""No," he said, laughing. "You aren't fired. I hope you understand that you do not have to make these decisions alone. You do not need to be a student to seek assistance from college counsellors. They are groups for homesick people. If you can't find one, create one. I don't believe you're the only young person who feels this way.""

He took the last sip of his coffee and got up to leave. The door chimed as new customers began to come in.

"Thank you," the young woman said, returning to work.

"You are welcome, I will see you next week. I hope to hear you progress report."

She finished her shift after thinking about what the older man had said.

Did other people feel as lost as she did?