“...18,19 and...20. I guess that’s all,” Mika finished counting empty boxes and sat down in his new armchair, “My entire life consists of those 20 boxes and that one huge suitcase that is standing over there.” 

Until recently, he was sure that packing, leaving his friends, family, and the country he was born in and grew up in was difficult, but as he was looking at his new apartment, he became aware that unpacking was much worse. It was his first time moving countries, and he didn’t know what to expect. Well, truth be told he wanted that feeling to be “excitement”, but instead he ended up with emotions he couldn’t categorize.

He threw his head back, sighed loudly, and turned on his favorite music playlist on his mobile. He was truly exhausted. Not physically, but mentally. The last 8 weeks passed in the blink of an eye, and he still couldn’t get used to the fact that he was now in a new city, ready to start his long-awaited job tomorrow.

The hardest part of the entire relocation was being far away from his parents and friends. He was starting a new chapter in his life while being in his thirties. Not that it bothered him, but he was sometimes thinking about whether there was some maximum age where he would say “no” to his dreams. After all, leaving behind so many things, places, and, most importantly, people who were dear to him wasn’t an easy decision.

Maybe it wouldn’t be that bad if I didn’t relocate alone. I’m sure it would have been much easier for me to go through all of this if I’d had someone beside me.

Mika hated to be alone. He was the type of person who liked to surround himself with friends. He was falling in love fast and was always giving 100% in a relationship. And while he was happy that he joined his Mnx company, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy about the entire situation.

Mika was about to get lost in his thoughts again when he heard a familiar sound coming from his phone. He didn’t even have to check who was calling - that specific ringtone that he had set up a long time ago belonged to Chris.

He had been trying to get in touch with Mika since that unfortunate Friday night, but Mika decided that he wouldn’t be picking it up. Sure, he could have just blocked his number, but instead, he made a bold decision to just not pay attention to it.

“Easier said than done,” he muttered while looking at Chris' name being displayed on the mobile screen.

He knew perfectly well how many times he had received a call from him, this one makes it 150, and how many messages Chris had sent him via SMS, and all his social media accounts should be around 200. Once the screen turned black, Mika lifted his head and continued looking at his not fully furnished apartment.

No matter how tough it was for him, he appreciated the fact that he was able to find such a nice and cozy place fast. It was less spacious than the previous one he lived in, but since he was single now, he didn’t need that much space. In fact, having a bigger apartment could have made him feel even more lonely, which is why from the very beginning he was aiming for something smaller.

And he was able to find a perfect place for himself. The 2kk flat he rented was located in the less touristic part of Malá Strana, offering quick access to the green Petřín Gardens and Charles Bridge, where he could easily reach his favorite walking route along the Vltava river.

Mika stood up, picked up the laptop that was on the table in front of him, and moved to the couch. After making himself comfortable, he decided it would be good to go one more time through all the materials that Aleksandr had sent him. Aleksandr emailed Mika around one week ago with best wishes and congratulations saying that he’s happy for him and the fact that Mika will be joining his team. 

He was truly thankful for that message, as it had helped him put more focus on the future that awaited him, rather than being stuck in the past and constantly thinking about the breakup. Once again, Aleksandr made Mika feel relaxed and happy, just like he did during the job interview. All it took was just a few simple lines.

Mika opened an attachment and frowned as he was going through a 6-page document.

“Ok, uhm...looks like there are a lot of things that I’ll have to learn. I don’t understand more than half of those words and terms that are being used here. I hope that now that I got in, I won’t make a complete idiot out of myself in front of all those smart people,” he muttered to himself.

Rubbing his forehead, he began thinking about the upcoming ramp-up time. He had promised himself a long time ago that if he got into his dream company, he would try his best. But now that he was about to start the Software Engineer role, he somehow began to doubt his own capabilities and skills.

“I’ll be fine. I just need to remember about taking one step at a time,” he reassured himself, trying to sound confident.

It became obvious that now that he was single, he needed to be strong – he could not call Chris before going to bed, ask him for help, or receive his support. There was no one that he could rely on. This is why it was crucial for him to stay positive and believe in himself.