Moving South: Scotlyn and Peachie's Story

Hi, my name is Scotlyn. (And the cat you see is Peachie)

I need help moving back from California to the South. Now you might be asking why my goofy tail is in California. I moved to CA in 2023 to help a friend. They had claimed that their parents were kicking them out and that no one would be their roommate, and they were going to be left homeless. I've always been the type of person and friend that if I could help someone, I would. So, I packed up my things, found a job, helped get us an apartment, and moved, with no friends and family around in a new place. I'm not going to lie; I was scared but truly thought that this friend was going to have my back for the long haul.

Well, things were not all sunshine and rainbows no matter how hard I tried. In 2024, I was diagnosed with BPD and suspected to have C-PTSD. At that time, I was working a job that was making my mental health even worse, and unnecessary drama within the home was making it worse since I worked from home. In full transparency, I was in the deepest and blackest hole I've ever been, so soon after the diagnosis, I went to an outpatient program to help me cope and process what was going on in my head for the first time ever. While in the outpatient program, my job fired me. But I thought I could get unemployment and stay afloat, and things would get better. Sadly, it didn't. The unemployment checks never came, and my "friend's" physical health was getting worse, and they were taking it out on me.

Now here I must stop and give you a trigger warning for suicide. Please don't read the next part if you are sensitive about this topic.

Due to all of the stressors and already bad mental health, after one last fight with said "friend," I attempted to take my own life. I was found by my then neighbors and was taken to the hospital for a 72-hour hold and then later in an inpatient program. While there, I would call and beg this so-called "friend" to not give up on me. I was alone with no family and at that time only one former work friend (that turned into one of my best friends in this lifetime). They never visited or called, just sent a 5-page letter about how terrible I was, and in that moment, I knew that they were never a true friend, and I was used. But I used that to push me to get better and fight to live.

When I was released, I had to Uber back to an empty apartment because the same person that I traveled and moved across the country for so they wouldn't be left homeless was now leaving me homeless. I tried to save my apartment, and I was going to as many job interviews as a person could go to. When I say I hit the ground RUNNING, I mean it. When it rains, it pours, and no jobs offered me anything, and I lost my apartment. But at that time, I still had a car, and I had my cat (that in truth I didn't want at first but said "friend" wanted, and I ended up paying for all the vet bills and things for her. Now she's my biggest reason to keep fighting and living every day).

My friend (that started off as just my remote job work friend) two hours away took me in for 2 months even though she has two kids and her sister staying with her in a one-bedroom apartment. My unemployment checks never came, and I had to borrow money for a while, but I was alive and fighting! Sadly, I had no money to pay my bills, so my credit was for sure taking a hit, but I was remaining hopeful.

After 2 months, guess who got a call from a job finally, ME!!! I was so happy! I didn't have a place to live back in Sac, but I knew then was the turning point for me. For the first two weeks, Peachie (that's my cat's name) and I stayed in a hotel, and then after that found a room to rent for $950 a month. I felt and still feel so blessed that it turned out the way it did. But after a year of trying to find a second job to pay my debts, build my credit up, and the money I borrowed from family, and working to make ends barely meet, the final straw came. My car recently died (blown gasket on an '04 Camry). The same car that got me to California, yes, I drove, had taken her last drive and now sits in the driveway waiting to be scrapped.

Now, I have to pay to Uber to work (or walk 2 hours and 40 minutes to work there and back), and with my lease being up in 3 months, I have to admit that my time in California is up, and I need to move back to the South.

I've missed out on a lot in my family's life and friend's life. I miss being around people for the holidays or even just seeing people on a daily basis that want to see me, and God do I miss hugs. Like I really, really need a hug if you can't tell haha.

And that's why now I'm asking for help. While all this was happening, the biggest lesson I've learned is that it's okay to ask for help and show people that I'm always trying my best, but sometimes my best still isn't good enough. But I don't plan on giving up yet. I refuse to try to leave this earth again before my time, and I want to see my nieces (I count my friend's daughters as mine as well as my actual niece), 3-month-old nephew (that I haven't gotten to meet yet, but I will soon!), and little sister grow up. Plus, I wanna go to my brother's wedding in Sept too! I'm tired of missing out. I have much more life to live; I just need help getting back to square one!

My current goal is to move to TX, where some of my family are and my friend that's willing to help me get an apartment on my own. Why Texas? Why not Mississippi or North Carolina where a major part of my family lives? Texas has great job opportunities and thankfully doesn't mind crappy credit if you can pay a higher deposit fee as well as great public transport since I'll be without a car for a while.

Sadly, I lack funds. I know the amount I'm asking for is a lot and that everyone is a bit tight on money, but if you can donate even 5 dollars or share this story, it would mean the world to me! (And Peachie too)

This is the breakdown of what I'll be using the funds for because I believe in full transparency, and you should know what you'll be helping with!

$2,425 - U-Haul

$600 - Gas

$700-800ish - Hotel stops (3 of them)

$1,480 - First month rent + deposit + pet deposit

=

$5,305

Any remaining amount will go to rent and groceries while I hunt for a job and help give me a solid ground to rebuild from, or anything that might pop up while on my trip back to the South. Rather be safe than sorry, so I've learned the hard way.

I have 3 months to raise this amount and if you made it this far, please consider donating or sharing this story to those who can. On my end, I'm still applying for remote jobs since I can't apply for in-person jobs just yet. But I'm not giving up!

Thank you for reading and sharing! I hope that something sweet happens to you today.

(❁´◡`❁)