My name is Leila Jean Smith. After an hour long ride from campus to my dark, worn studio apartment on the lower east side, I clambered off the bus, books, laptop and bags of groceries in tow. It was a cold Friday afternoon in the big and unforgiving city of New York; the sky was gray and cast a dark, juxtaposing shadow over a city normally associated with boundless opportunities. I came to the city a year and a half ago from Texas after a failed relationship, a childhood dotted by abuse and neglect and a series of broken dreams. New York was a fresh start, albeit a difficult one. It's hard to be small-town in such a big city.

After climbing up the stairs, I trudged in. My cat, Big Cat always greets me right when I walk in, and I always scoop him up in my arms and hold him against my chest to feel his purring against my heart. Usually at this time of day, I plop down in front of the TV and watch the news or I open up my laptop and surf around various websites to try and find new friends in my neighborhood. That's actually how I met my boyfriend, Jack.

I enjoy reading, all things geeky, and long walks on the beach.