Julia had not very good feelings about my employer and had been hounding me to quit my PA job for months...and it was mostly my fault that she hated his guts. The man frustrated me to no end and Julia, even though she now lived many states away in Dallas, was still my number one go-to venting safe space when it came to the man. And she was right. I did need a talking to this morning.

Alba: I’m ready though. I’m doing this.

Julia typed a series of fire and fist-in-the-air emojis. Then a GIF from Hamilton with Lin Manuel Miranda mouthing “take my shot.”

Julia: You got this ma!

The three dots stayed on the screen for a beat and before the words popped up on my screen I knew what she was going to say.

Julia: And you’re still visiting right?

Though I knew it was coming, the question kicked up the anxious pounding in my chest. She wasn’t asking to confirm, she was asking because the four other times I’d promised to visit I’d canceled on her at the last minute.

I had a hard time leaving New York.

Between my three jobs and my family, I constantly felt like whenever I left the city I only came back to a string of fires to put out. But I had not taken a weekend off in a year and I was running on fumes. Also—and I really was ashamed of this part—Julia had been in Dallas for almost two years, and I had yet to visit. My friend had gone and made a whole-ass life for herself in Texas. New friends, new job, new man. She was happy, and though I was proud of her and so fucking happy that she was killing it down there, I felt like if I went and saw what she’d made, that I’d start comparing. That taking stock of what I still didn’t have would make me bitter.

But things would be different after today. I was finally doing the thing. I’d put this off for too damn long.

Julia: Am I going to need to get on a plane and force you to go on vacation, Alba Serena Duarte?

Maybe this bitch could read minds?

Alba: Damn, chill, Julia. I already have my ticket. I’m packed too. I’ll let him know today and fly to Dallas tomorrow. Be ready to pamper my ass like your place is the Ritz-Carlton.

Another GIF, this time of Michelle Obama clapping.