The train's familiar rumble faded, replaced by the chaotic symphony of the city station. Sunlight, harsh and unforgiving, baked the platform as I stepped off, clutching my worn luggage a little tighter. It was a stark contrast to the quiet cornfields of home, where trees danced and summer felt eternal.

Memories of my childhood, simple and sweet, flickered through my mind, a fleeting comfort before the onslaught of urban reality. I found a bench, sinking onto it beside a man whose torn clothes and rancid smell screamed desperation. His unblinking stare made my skin crawl, a silent, unsettling intrusion.

Around me, families embraced, their joyous reunions a stark reminder of my own solitude. “Where is my crazy ass best friend?” I mumbled, scanning the throng.

Then, a piercing shriek cut through the noise. “LILY! LILY!”

I looked left. A blur of blonde hair, vigorously waving. “Mel?” I whispered, disbelief warring with relief. She barreled through the crowd, pulling me into a fierce, familiar hug. As she pulled away, her new blonde hair, her revealing clothes, and the shocking pink Lamborghini outside hit me. This wasn't the Mel I grew up with. This was someone new, and a part of me wondered if I was ready for her world.