When We Meet

ch 1: intro

Walking through the university center building, like any other day, is a hassel in itself. Wondering down the walk ways is always an experience, passing by all the groups of students, some talking in pairs others studying or rushing to finish assignment in the lounge areas while others line up to get one of their daily caffeine fixings. Usually people watching is something I enjoy but for the past two weeks I have been out of it. Like any nineteen year old will tell you, life is tough and currently, I am living in the turmoil that makes life harder, heart break.

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I just got out of my three hour lecture when my phone buzzes. Groaning, I juggle my text books in my hand and reach into my bag, not easy considering my books are heavy and could be mistaken for phonebooks. Pulling out my phone I see a message request waiting for me on facebook, being used to random people messaging me on social media i thought nothing of it and toss my phone back into my bag and head into the nearest coffee line.

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Dont get me wrong, im not very conceited or vain at the least in saying this, it is just a normal occurance for an albanian girl. Living in Canada I find that lots of albanian people, mostly boys will message girl in hopes of having a chance to start a relationship (in hope of it leading to marriage) with you and increasing their chances of leaving their country to start a life in canada.

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For the past eight months I was in conntact with a boy whom I grew attached to. We texted everyday and video chatted when possible, he became apart of my every day life, that is until two weeks ago.

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I have an open relationship with my mother, and she always said to me growing up "find love and i will not be againt your decision". Her relationship with my dad was not the easiest considering they had an arranged marriage and wanted her children to have the privilege to find their own spouses. But little did i know when she said those words to me, implied was that person has to meet a certain standard. Such as, having a good reputation in the community for him and his family. Finding out was not hard considering back home is not a very large country and everyone knows everyone or knows someone who knows. My moms side works closely with the major of their region and knows almost everyone, which ment they knew his family history and disapprovingly informed my mom.

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After adapting him into my normal day to day life it became hard to forget about him when my parents made me cut him out and break the relationship we had because his families reputation. It was hard and fighting for him in the end was all in vain because he soon gave up when the going got tough. I felt so pushed aside and hurt, and this pain and anger was not fading as quick as i would have hoped.

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My family back home tried to get me over him by finding me "suitable" guys to talk to and my aunts husband kept mentioning a name of a guy but i was never one to bounce from boy to boy, and decided to live in my self pitty for a while.

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***Buzz buzz buzz***
Uggh I internally groan, reaching for my phone once again and read "Lorenzo P requests to message you". Curious, i open the chat and see he has messaged me.

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Lorenzo: Heyyy qysh je aje mir (hey how are you)

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I shake my head at his name ( because Lorenzo is not a run of the mill albanian name) but reply anyways.

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Lulije: hi mir jam spot njoh kush je ti ( hi im good i don't recognise you who are you)

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Just as im about to put my phone away i get an instant reply

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Lorenzo: my names Lorenzo .

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Lulije: okay lorenzo whats your real name.

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Lorenzo: lorenzo

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Frustrated at this point i leave him on read, i was 100 percent sure his name was not Lorenzo and decided to not bother if he was not honest with me.

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***ring ring ring***

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I reach for my phone and answer without looking at the caller id, being as i do not talk much to anyone, i rarely check. Usually it is my mom calling wondering if im done class and wondering when I will be home.

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What i hear on the other end is nothing similar to my moms angelic voice, in comparison it is a gruff deep voice but not to deep that it sounds like a fifty year old smoker. Just deep enough to catch my interest.

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