ELLA

Underneath that pride was something else—I couldn’t quite put a finger on it or give it a name, but I felt it.

It ran deeper than anything I’d experienced in a long time, and it made me question my decisions.

It was a strange blend of fear, pride, and a wave of uncertainty. This was the first time I was leaving home—or anything I remotely called that—and while it felt like adventure was waiting for me ahead, the thought of being alone in a new place terrified me.

I didn’t know what to do with all these emotions. This was unfamiliar territory, and as usual, I had no map,...