I moved from Trivandrum with a bag full of dreams and a heart brimming with hope.
After quitting my job, I spent six months at home, taking the time to slow down and ground myself. Those months healed in many ways, but they also served as a reality check, especially for my long-distance relationship. We made it work, but it wasn’t easy. The calls, the countdowns, and the distance wore us down. We knew we loved each other, but we also recognized that we couldn’t continue living apart.
So, I made a choice. I left home, leaving behind everything, my comfort zone, family, and routines, and moved to Dubai to be with him. I did it for love, for us, and for the future we wanted to build together.
The hardest part of leaving wasn’t the packing or the goodbyes, it was saying farewell to Layla, my dog, my baby girl. She is more than just a pet; she is family. She doesn’t understand why I’m no longer there, and that thought breaks my heart at times. Home still resonates with the sound of her paws, her sleepy eyes, and the love I carry in my heart every single day.
Up until the very last moment, I was filled with excitement, the kind that makes your heart race and your hands shake a little. But then, suddenly, reality hit me. This wasn’t a vacation or a short trip; this was a new chapter, a significant shift. I felt scared, scared of everything changing, even the things I wanted to change.
Meeting him again after months apart felt surreal. There was joy, of course, but also an unexpected nervousness. We were no longer merely in love; we were about to live together, navigate life as a team, and discover what our relationship would look like in the everyday moments, not just the in-between ones. We didn’t have all the answers, but we had heart. And sometimes, that’s enough.
It has been 20 days since I moved, and time seems to be flying by. Life here feels good, peaceful, steady, and even enjoyable. I feel loved, cared for, and supported, for which I am truly grateful. However, even as I settle in, a part of me remains back home. Layla will always have a piece of my heart.
I don’t know when I will see her again, and that uncertainty is painful. However, I cling to hope, hope that this move will open new doors, hope that this love will ground me in new ways, and hope that the life I’ve envisioned is not too far from the one I am currently building.
Moving to a new city brings a suitcase full of emotions, excitement, fear, longing, and joy. I’m learning to embrace them all. Sometimes, you don’t just unpack boxes; you also uncover versions of yourself that you never knew were waiting to be discovered.
