Away

Remi’s life hadn’t been easy. His mother’s death, along with being the Black Sheep of his family, didn’t help. The relatives he’d grown up with had let their actions speak for them. They’d never really loved him to begin with. He’d fallen into a deep depression over time. Feelings of not being good enough. He’d felt like a burden for not being able to be an independent person. His Disabilities meant he was unable to work. He’d been fighting for Disability for a while. He hadn’t been so sure he was going to get it. Until a happenstance conversation changed everything. Depression led him down a darker road than most knew. Or understood. His drawings, as well as Poetry, helped him far more than anyone ever understood. He’d begun submitting both to make a little extra money until he had a decision from Disability. 

He’d created his own website displaying his drawings. He would post a synopsis of his Poetry in hopes someone would want to read it. In hopes they’d get accepted somewhere. His Poetry did far better than his drawings. Most of his Poetry was accepted somewhere. It was decent pay most of the time. He’d taken some time away because of his Mental Health. His current living situation had been getting progressively worse. His dads health was declining. It had been declining for a few years. His dad, as usual, downplayed everything. Until he nearly caused an accident causing a Cognitive assessment to be done. He’d been diagnosed with Dementia. It wasn’t something new to Remi. He’d already suspected that. 

“You’re going into this Care Facility. You DON’T have a choice. I can’t care for you in the way you need. It’s the best decision whether you like it or not” Remi told him
“I’m fine-” Michael began
“ARE YOU SERIOUS! YOU ARE ANYTHING BUT FINE! You already AREN’T taking care of yourself. You’ve been diagnosed with Dementia. You saw what that did to your own mother. I’m not going to be able to care for you because of my own health issues. There’s just no way I’ll be able to do it and care for myself”  Remi screeched at him 

He’d walked out of the Facility an hour later. He’d talked to everyone he needed to letting them know to not contact him about anything. He wanted no part of it for obvious reasons. He’d said and done all he could to no avail. He’d gone no contact with Michael. It was something that felt freeing. Far more than he thought. He’d downsized everything the previous year. He’d known if something like this happened he’d need to be prepared. He’d realized he didn’t have any need for nearly everything he had. It took him a week to organize and get rid of everything he no longer wanted. Now, a year later, he was packing up the little he had and leaving for New York City. He knew he’d be homeless. He didn’t care. It was far away from the town, and people that never once loved him.

People hadn’t been so kind to him. He’d been betrayed by far too many people in the last few years. People he’d thought were friends. He was far happier than before despite being homeless. He’d plenty of time to think on the long train ride. He didn’t have a plan. All he knew was that he was going to figure it out in the hotel room after getting into New York. The first thing he was going to do was roaming around New York after he unpacked his things. 

“Checking in?” Asked the receptionist
“Yes I am. Remi Schoenberg” Remi replied
“Here you are. Visiting?” He asked
“No, moving” Remi smiled
“That’s wonderful. What part of New York?” He inquired
“No idea right now. Just kind of roaming around this week. Have any suggestions on where I should settle?” Remi asked
“Anywhere you settle will be a good fit” he enthusiastically replied 
“That’s good to know. Do you know anywhere near where I could look for a place?” Remi asked
“Yeah, I do. Give me some time and I’ll compile a list” being his only response
“Fine by me. I’ll be unpacking and wandering” Remi said

Remi had no idea which one of the Burroughs he was going to move to. He was just happy to finally be in New York. People kept trying to convince him to come back to care for his dad. He’d gone no contact after a long Social Media post explaining everything. He’d let everything out. He’d, in not so many words, shamed everyone for not reaching out more. For not believing him when he shared what was going on when it came up in conversation. Or when they asked. Everyone was taken aback. It was. the silence that told him everything. 

Remi knew he had enough money for a while with the money he had from selling the car. He wanted a place of his own though. He didn’t want a big place. A decently sized studio with a view was all he wanted. He’d found that near Times Square. He’d taken Cameron's advice by following his heart. The Loft was the first one he’d seen. He fell in love with it and signed the papers the same day. It was the start of a new life for him. A far better life.