Emma was starting her first year of college. A new city means new people and new people mean a fresh start. No more small-town drama where everyone knows everyone else and everything about them.
Emma had dreamt of living in the big city since she was a child. Do not get her wrong. She loves her small town and her adoptive parents even more but something has always felt like it was missing. No matter how much they showered her with gifts, she never felt whole.
In the last year, Emma went through a bit of a rebellious stage: skipping school, partying, and the occasional joy rides in the towns people's cars. Lucky for her her father is the town mayor and Emma managed to stay out of serious trouble.
Emma is attending Art school in New York. Not that she needed it but, she got a full ride scholarship. Her parents were pretty wealthy. She knows her dads profession but her mom has always been a bit of a mystery. Her parents always joked they were prince charming and snow white and that her grandparents where a king and queen and left all their trust to her father.
Unlike most freshman Emma will be living in an off-campus loft that her parents gave her as a graduation gift. Compensation for guilt most likely. Her father's assistant even took her shopping so the loft would be fully furnished by the time she moved in.
Just as she finishes loading up her car her parents walk outside to say their final goodbyes.
"Honey, are you sure you don't want to take the car we bought you? Surely you'll get to the city much safer than in this…thing" Her mother says.
"Mom, you know what this car means to me, I want it with me while I start this new chapter in my life." Responded Emma.
"Well, suit yourself then. We love you and please keep us updated along the way and call the second you get to your loft or I will have the entire Storybrooke police out searching for you."
She hugs her mother and father before getting into her car and driving off, taking one last look at the place she's called home for the last 18 years.
She cant believe shes finally doing this. Doing what she's dreamt about her whole life, and with nothing better than the car her birth mother had left to her when she passed away.
Emma didn't know much about her, just that she was an amazing artist and loved her daughter dearly. When she was three her mother was diagnosed with cancer, it spread quickly and her mother was gone after a few short months.
After roughly five hours of driving Emma arrives at her loft in Manhattan. She pulls up to the valet at her building. Taking a deep breath, she steps on to the street and looks around. It's the beginning of fall, the trees are in transition from bright greens and yellows to hues of orange and reds. It rained earlier in the day and a thin sheen of water coats the streets.
"I'm home." She says to herself.