Wanderlust

Ari had never really traveled before. The Nomadic lifestyle intrigued him. Life happened though. Unfortunately. A string of events, along with some bad decisions, that left him stuck in the small town he grew up in. Until things changed. Until his dad made ignorant comments that Ari called him out on. He’d never let his short stature slow him down. He didn’t let his myriad of Disabilities slow him down either. He’d been denied Disability. The Government claimed he wasn’t Disabled enough. Despite the fact he shouldn’t be working at all. He reflected on everything as he packed up to leave. 

“You’re just-” Shiloh began
”No, I’m NOT overreacting. OR being “dramatic” either. You’re ignorant and never listened to me before anyway. It doesn’t help you’ve LIED to me about everything. I am NOT going to stay here while you essentially kill yourself because you won’t listen to me or the Doctors” Ari screamed back at him
“I’m not-” Shiloh tried saying
“NO! You DON’T get to talk to me anymore. I’m DONE talking to you” Ari replied

Shiloh left the room, and the house, out of anger. Ari knew Shiloh didn’t like what he just said. It’s what he needed to hear though. Ari packed up quicker and left knowing Shiloh would be back soon. Not like he’d needed long to pack anyway. He’d gotten rid of everything long before the fight with Shiloh. He only had the bare essentials. It was his best friend Eli that helped him get everything into the car and leave. Eli had let Ari know he could keep the few boxes of photos with him until he found a more stable place to stay after traveling around. Something Ari appreciated. 

The small town he’d grown up in had been one never really liked being in to begin with. The highly bigoted, highly religious area was filled with ignorance. People who didn’t practice what they preached. The few that did were few and far between. It was the few people that loved him for who he is he cherished. Ari had become an openly closeted Trans man since he moved back home. He’d moved to South Florida after his dad remarried. The woman he married was an old flame he shouldn’t have married but did anyway. An event sprung upon him at the last minute. He’d walked out of the ceremony after going off on his dad and those who knew but never said anything to him. He was grateful it happened in some ways. He’d found himself while in South Florida. He’d also helped his Paternal Grandmother while there. He’d been half homeless the entire time after being repeatedly kicked out of his Step-Mothers place. Ari had no issue speaking his mind to her. He’d found a job in Miami Beach where he’d stay in nearby Hostels. A place where people helped him find himself. Where he was loved for who he is. A place he longed for after moving back to the small town he grew up in

“Where you going to go?” Maddie asked
“No idea, right now, I don’t even care either” Ari replied
”Why” Josh asked
”I have enough money saved that I can travel for a while. I’ve no idea if I’ll come back to Florida or not. I’m fine with that” Ari sighed
”I already know you’d go to Miami Beach if you did though” Eli chuckled
”OF COURSE I would, its me we’re talking about after all” Ari laughed

The group knew how much this last night meant to him. He’d reflected back on the few times he left that were failed attempts at staying away. Encounters with Narcissists that tried taking advantage of him financially. People that hated Ari after he stood up to them. He didn’t go home right away both times. He’d been homeless in New York City for a while. He worked odd jobs that helped him eat and get around. Odd jobs that didn’t pay enough to keep a roof over his head. He didn’t mind much though. It gave him time to roam around. He didn’t mind not eating much either. He hadn’t been able to stay in NYC long either time though. His dad wanted him back home instead of being homeless. He’d only agreed out of thinking he’d be able to find a job after moving back. Something that took months to happen. He’d found a job as a Dishwasher. Life happened over the next two years. He’d been able to save enough to leave in the first year. He wanted enough to travel for a while. Something he wasn’t too sure would happen. 
 
He’d stayed in Miami Beach for a few weeks after leaving. Everyone knew it’d be the first thing he’d do. He’d taken a remote job opportunity while he was there. A Marketer for one of the many restaurants. Their popularity had grown after Ari made some advertisements for them that brought in far more business than ever before. It wasn’t until Ari revealed his secret that they decided to hire him. He’d sat at one of their tables for lunch one day and people watched. He observed his surroundings. He saw things that could bring people in. He’d already let them know his plans to leave the state to travel around for a while. Something they were fine with. Something they’d encouraged. Their only request being to write for them based on what they emailed him. He didn’t mind that at all. It never took him long to write something for them anyway. He’d left with a small stack of things to do on his journey up to New York City. The roomette on the train gave him enough space to work. It wasn’t like he was going to be sleeping much anyway. He planned on getting all of it done by the time the train pulled into the city. The plan being to email everything before he even got off the train. 

He was happy he was able to travel. Finally. The Wanderlust he experienced was being filled. He traveled everywhere he wanted. He spent time in each place. He aimlessly wandered around most of the time. He wanted nothing more than to let this be his life. He also knew the restaurant would want him back at some point. He wasn’t so sure he wanted to do that. He wanted to indulge his wanderlust and just traveled. He’d let all the money he made pile up. He’d found a system that worked for him. Public Transportation along with short term rentals, along with his fasting diet that saved money. He’d always been a simplistic person that didn’t need much. A person that took joy in getting lost and just roaming around. He’d even formed a routine for when he’d travel around. He’d kept in touch with his friend group in the town he’d grown up in. They loved his photo and video updates whenever he sent them. It was usually at least fifty photos and a ten minute video. He was enjoying the Nomadic life he was moving through. It helped him heal from his traumatic past. 

He formed a routine for when he worked on things for the restaurant. He’d let it pile up before taking some time to finish all of it and email it back to Rafael. A more permanent place to stay was a toss up between NYC and Miami Beach after a while. He loved both places. He knew he’d be accepted, loved for who he is, and have a community to be part of in either place. It was clear where his heart was at the end of the day. A recent video call with Rafael revealed everything he needed to know. Ari had an epiphany during the call. One that forever changed his life. 

“Are you sure you want to do this? It’d be a big change for you after the lifestyle you’ve had the last year and a half” Rafael asked
“Yeah, I’m positive, I think it’s about time for me to settle somewhere. I’d be able to keep everything I have in one place and travel as much as I want to. The Wanderlust is still very much hounding me. To have a place I can call home, where I can retreat to when I’m overwhelmed, is something I’ve been thinking about during my time here in St. Louis. I’d thought about the city. I see myself in Miami Beach though. I hadn’t really traveled around the Miami area as much as I’d wanted to when I lived there. I was in survival mode” Ari replied 
”Wow, that…. Seems like a lot” Rafael said with a shocked look on his face
”It is. There’s a few things I never told you guys at the restaurant for a reason. I was still healing from my past. I’ll share everything after I get back. I’m leaving tomorrow and will be back tomorrow night” Ari grinned
”Really?!” Rafael exclaimed
”Surprise!” Ari chuckled 
“Why didn’t you-” Rafael began
“I wasn’t sure when I wanted to come back until about an hour ago. You called right after I booked the flight” Ari sighed
”I’m picking you up then. We’ll surprise everyone at the restaurant”
“Sounds good. I booked the hotel while on the phone with you. A friend I know is in Real Estate. A conversation with him and one virtual viewing later I’ve got a place I’m going to buy. I obviously can’t do much more until I’m back there so the rest of the week I’ll be doing that. We’ve done things to a point with everything else having to be done in person” Ari said with a smile
“OBVIOUSLY you’ve already planned stuff out” Rafael laughed
“Yeah, I’ve got the hotel room until Sunday. As long as things go fine I’ll be moving into my place on Monday” Ari grinned 
“Wow, that is quick” Rafael replied 
“Yeah, at least I’ll have a place. And yes I’ll have Hurricane Insurance” Ari laughed
“I would hope so” Rafael chuckled
“I’m tired and need sleep. See you tomorrow” Ari smiled 
“See you then” Rafael said with a smile 

Ari moved to Miami Beach permanently the following Monday. He’d taken the rest of the week to get everything done he needed to. He could’ve moved in before Monday if he wanted to. He had the keys after all. He had the Hotel room though. He’d ultimately given it to Eli when he came down for a visit. Eli had taken the weekend off to spend some time with Ari. To also bring the boxes of photos, along with everything else Ari had left with him. He’d been the first one Ari told. Right before Rafael called. In typical Rafael fashion, his Hispanic roots came out when he planned his own surprise for Ari. A welcome home party of sorts. He hadn’t let everyone else at the restaurant know Ari was coming back. He’d planned on telling them about the party while Ari dropped his stuff off in his hotel room. He knew there’d be enough time to set everything up. Even Eli was in on this surprise. Ari wasn’t too surprised when he got back to the restaurant. He figured they’d plan something on the fly. He knew them too well. He was gone long enough for them to do it. He was happy it happened though. Ari had put a significant amount of money down on the house. Roughly half of the amount of the sale price. He had his eye on the place he bought for a while. He fell in love with its charm. It was a perfect fit for him. Everyone else loved it as well. It was Eli that coordinated a surprise housewarming party. Everyone bought something to fill the house with. A surprise party that left Ari in tears. 

“I really can’t believe you guys did this. I’m not surprised and can believe it. But can’t at the same time” he said through tears
“You did this all on your own though. You survived what you thought would kill you. It was YOU that got YOU to where you are now. I know I’m proud of you” Eli replied
“We didn’t want you walking into an empty house either. We’re leaving the food up to you obviously. Aside from the coffee of course” Gio laughed

Everyone wanted to welcome him into the home he’d worked so hard to get. To show him how much they loved him. To show they saw how far he’d come since he’d left home three years prior at this point. He’d battled Depression the entire time. He’d doubted himself just as much. He stopped doubting himself after he left Malibu. He’d sat on a beach in Malibu one morning, smoking a joint, reflecting on where he’d been. He’d wandered the streets late at night. He’d been to places off the beaten path. He collected souvenirs to decorate his future house with. Eli eventually moved to Miami Beach as well. He wanted a change of scenery. He’d been able to buy a place of his own in Miami Beach as well. His job in the Hotel industry had been good to him. He’d been able to save on a down payment for a house. He wanted to be closer to his best friend. Eli was hired at the restaurant as a Manager. Rafael had gotten the go ahead and opened a second location while Ari was gone. Ari had written everything to attract customers. Word had gotten out about the second location though. Ari was charged with making the Gluten and Allergy free menu. That was the main goal of this location after all. To cater to both areas.