New Start

Sunlight filtered in through the blinds causing Lauren's auburn hair to glow like fire against the crisp white linens. She stretched languidly, like a cat, feeling each muscle awaken and aching from her activities the day before. Moving was always hard but to leave everything you have ever known was an entirely new experience for her. She hoped that this new start; this new country would give her broken heart a new start also.

Lauren forced herself up out of the bed and stumbled through the sliding door of her bedroom into her tiny apartment. That bed was as hard as a rock she thought to herself. Her new sheets seemed so strange stretched over the thin mattress that was on the bed the school provided for her. At least the floors were warm on her bare feet. Radiant heating warmed the floors. This was a good thing considering that the winters in Korea were bitterly cold which was quite different from the mild winters back in her home state of Florida in the USA.

Her family had been shocked when she had told them of her plans to teach in a foreign country for a year. She was still kind of in shock herself trying to believe that this was all real. It had happened so quickly. When Todd, her Fiance, had suddenly broken off their engagement and admitted that he was seeing someone else her world had abruptly changed. She couldn't stand the pitying looks from the people in her small community. Everywhere she looked she had seen memories of her and Todd together. When Lauren had seen the ad for this teaching opportunity in Seoul, South Korea on the internet she had decided it was time for a new adventure. The interview had went well and here she was about to begin a new job teaching English at a private high school.