"So, this is actually happening," She said.

This was Maika Lee, she was about to make an adventure from Pyongyang, North Korea to Toronto, Ontairo, Canada. She's been looking forward to this for so long; but now that it's finally here, she doesn't know what to think.

She stood in her now empty room; technically it was her and her younger sister's room. Maika lived in a small apartment complex; it only had 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a living room and a kitchen. It'd be nice to have her own room for a change she loved her little sister to pieces but sometimes siblings get on each other's nerves.

"Maika junbi dwaessni?" A voice from the living room called. (Maika are you ready to go?)

She called back, "Naneun jamsi hue geogieiss-eulgeoya," (I'll be there in a minute mom) Maika tugged her black rolling suitcase in the living room and she was met with her mother and sister.

Soo, her little sister smiled at her, "Junbi doeeossnayo?" (Are you ready?)

Maika grinned, "Naneun eonjenaiss-eul junbigadoeeoissda," (Ready as I'll ever be)

Soo was around ten; she had short black hair and her clothes were a pink short sleeved raglan t-shirt with a pair of brown pants and purple sneakers.

Her mother Lily was around 5'8 and she had medium length black hair; she wore a pair of grey pants with red canvas sneakers and a medium sleeved navy-blue shirt.

Compared to her mom and sister, Maika dressed a bit more radical; she had an Emo style and she wasn't afraid to show it. However, living in North Korea, she was very restricted to what she could wear or how her hair should be done; it's unfair but that's the way things were.

Her outfit was a long grey tank top with a black ribcage printed on it with black leggings and teal sneaker boots, however she had to wear something over her clothes to avoid any unsuspecting stares. She wore a long brown jacket and her hair was tied in a messy bun.

They loaded their things into their car and drove down to the train station; they were going to take a train to Seoul and from there they will take a plane to Toronto. It'd be long but Maika is willing to do whatever it takes to leave her homeland; she has a very long and complicated history with where she grew up.

"Are you girls excited?" Lily asked.

Soo vibrated in her seat, "I can't wait to see our new home!"

"How about you Maika?" Lily asked.

"I'm a mixture of feelings, I'm excited but also nervous," Maika clarified.

Soo smiled, "Don't worry, everything will be fine,"

Lily agreed, "That's right, we're going to a wonderful place, you'll be free to have a voice and dress however you want,"

Maika grinned, "Can I run around naked?"

Soo broke out into a fit of laughter while her mother tried to keep a straight face; Maika's mom wasn't conservative when it came to clothes, but she wanted to make sure her daughters were respecting themselves with what they wore.

Lily laughed, "No,"

At the train station, they packed their luggage into the overhead compartment of their seats, Maika took the window seat while her sister and her mom sat on the seat across from her. A picture of Kim Jong Il stared down at her with his lying eyes piercing through her soul. She shot him a dirty glare and she was just being nice, Maika hated him with a burning passion. Her mom taught them what a monster that man was and what his true intentions are.

"Maika?" Soo said.

"Ne?" Maika asked. (Yeah?)

"Joimhae," Soo said. (Be careful)

"Naneun," Maika said. (I am)

"Neoneun nugleulbogo issneunji moleunda," Lily said. (You don't know who's watching)

"Naneun algo issgo naneun algoissda," Maika said. (I know and I'm aware)

The train took off from the station and headed towards Seoul. After a few hours they finally made it; before leaving they decided to get a quick bite to eat at a nearby mall that was right by the airport. Maika and Soo shared a large bowl of ramen while mom ate gimbap. It was around noon and their flight didn't leave until one.

"Eommaga nae os-eul gal-a ib-eul su-iss-eo?" Maika asked (Mom can I change my clothes?)

She smiled, "Balo gala," (Go right ahead)

Maika grabbed her black and teal makeup bag from her jacket pocket and headed toward the bathroom; she stepped up to one of the mirrors and grinned, she was done hiding her true self. After a few minutes of pampering, she was done, and she was satisfied. She took off her brown jacket, revealing her rib cage tank top; she let her long teal streaked black hair down. Her makeup was kept simple with neutral brown eyeshadow with black eyeliner and with matte peach lips to complete the look.

She adjusted her black tattoo choker and her nose stud to make sure they were just right; back home she could never get away with this. Maika could wear this around the house and only the house; if she went out in public dressed like this, she'd get in a lot of trouble, but things are different now. Moving to Canada is going to do her and her family a lot of good.

"Maika, we need to get to the airport," Soo said.

"Be there in a sec," Maika said.

Once they arrived on the plane, Maika took the window seat, Soo sat in the middle and their mom sat on the end. She could feel her heartbeat rapidly in her chest; apart of her was excited about going to a new country but a part of her couldn't adjust to the new changes. This wasn't like moving across the street or driving down to another city, she was flying halfway across the country; not to mention her body clock will be confused about the time and day.

"Maika dear, are you okay?" Lily asked.

"I'm fine, just nervous," Maika said.

She smiled, "Relax sweetie, everything will be okay. Canada will be a much better environment to live in,"

Soo chimed in, "I hear the trees are full of syrup,"

Maika chuckled, "Maybe our new house will have syrup trees,"

They were interrupted by the flight attendant telling them that they're about to take off and everyone needs to fasten their seat belts. She looked at the small TV in front of her and it showed the flight distance between Seoul to Toronto.

Maika smiled to herself, "Everything will be fine,"

End of Chapter 1; Hope your enjoying it so far, if your wondering about the Korean dialogue; it's from Google Translate. I know Google Translate isn't great but it's all I got, there will be more to come, stick around.