It All Started Here

I would love to say my journey to a new life was an easy one. Full of adventures and happy times. Making memories with my family in a new place. But sadly that is not the case. It wasn’t full of despair, but it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows either. For example, I recently just moved out of an old run down barn, post graduation.

I guess a little background, introduction if you will, is in order.

~~~

My name is Lily. Short for Lilian. I always preferred Lily and no one in my family really called me by my first name anyway. Except for my mom… Clary Stone. The pride of our little town, for becoming the first to leave it and come back one education richer. She was a doctor, a good one at that. She came home and opened up her own practice to help our town out. We weren’t a poor town. Just a small one. A couple of miles away from the nearest city.

She passed away when I was only four. Right before my fifth birthday. She died in a car accident on the way home from work. It was dark out, the roads were icy, and she lost control of the car. My heart broke into pieces that night. It’s never been the same. My mom, who was my best friend, had left me here too early... And not only that, but that was also the moment that my little family broke apart.

My older brother took the first chance he could to get away from our now broken home. He got accepted into his dream college hundreds of miles away, and left the moment he got the letter. He still keeps in contact with me. It hurts though… He was my rock and best friend as well. My only friend other than our mom. So it became, I became very lonely without him.

Dad took mom’s death the hardest though. They were highschool sweethearts. When they graduated highschool they found out they were pregnant with my brother. So they got married and moved into their first home together in this little town and the rest was history. He took to drinking...heavily. He became a person so unrecognizable. He wasn't there anymore. Emotionally. He became very abusive; verbally. To the point I only came out of my room to use the bathroom, wash up, and get some food. Oh and school of course. Because any other time he found every way to hurt my feelings.

He said it was because I reminded him of mom. They always said I looked just like her. Our hair was as yellow as a marigold. Eyes as brown and warm as chocolate. Mom and I took pride in how different we were. Not too many people with complexions as warm as ours have yellow hair. But here we were. But now...Now having golden locs as such made me feel like an outcast. Like it was a burden. Because dad made sure to let me know how much he hated my hair every chance he got.

“Y ou look just like your damn mom!,” he’d say. “Get out of my sight!”

You know that old saying; sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me? Yeah well they definitely hurt.

Eventually after the funeral my grandparents, my mom's parents, took me in. They didn’t live too far. Maybe 30 minutes out, but this was another small town. Grandma enrolled me into another school, and school life as well as life in general started over for me once again. I kept no contact with dad. Although, I don't think he wanted to keep in contact anyway because it was too painful f0r him. And Justin, my brother, came to visit me after my move.

Years went by and things started to turn around for the better. I started highschool and made a friend of my own! Her name is Bria. She’s an absolutely stunning red-head, and sweet as can be. I joined the poetry club. Everything was going great. And since the end of the school year is around the corner my absolutely smarty pants friend, who is the salutatorian this year, asked me to help her write a poetic goodbye speak for graduation. I felt like I was on the road to being happy again. But then it happened…

My world came crashing down again in only 3 months… Grandma passed. The next woman closest to me and my mom. My mom and my mom's mom both have left me. My grandma was the one person who could keep what was left of our little family together. She always kept us together. Grandpa took it quite well however. He said they knew this time was coming soon and they prepared. They didn’t wanna scare us and make us worry.

Grandma had cancer. They found out 2 years after mom died…She knew I’d only worry, so she prepared for the day quietly.

The cycle for me has started over once again and I wasn’t sure what to do about life once again. Graduation was coming and I had no interest whatsoever. I did help Bria finish her speech, but after that I didn't write for a while. I had no interest in school anymore. All I could think of was what should I do? Grandpa was going to move in with my aunt. My mom's eldest sister. Since it was no longer safe for him to live alone, despite how healthy he was. Their house and land is paid off and theirs, so it’s not going anywhere. They told me I was welcome to make the home mine, I just have to keep up with it myself. But I didn't want it. Way too many memories were held there as well.

So, I left. I packed up my single rolling suitcase with what I could fit. A few outfits, shoes, a few essentials, my necklace with some of mom's ashes (we had a funeral but she wanted to be cremated), our family photo, and my piece of inheritance money from mom. Mom was kind of rolling in dough. And with that I left. Apparently, my brother was interested in the house and since he did want to come back home it was safe to say that the house will be in good hands. Just not my hands. I left a letter for him on the counter. I then decided to go on a journey to find myself...once more. With not too many goodbyes in order to begin with, and summer slowly rolling in I felt like this would be a great journey.

~~~

That was in fact probably the worst thing I could’ve done. Since I did not have a car I figured I hitch hike. But I haven't had any luck so far. My phone died halfway through my trip. I ran out of food. I didn’t know exactly where I was going, but I knew for a fact that the closest town was ahead… way ahead. However, I did stir up a bit of luck when I came across this little old barn just on the outskirts of the town. It was next to a lake, and in pretty okay shape.

Taking the chance and hoping that there weren’t any (or too many) wild animals or crazy people living there, I marched my way in. And to say I was shocked was an understatement. The inside was cleaned up a little. No wild animals crawling about except for maybe spiders and such. But there was also a fire pit, a small duffle bag, and food! However, there wasn’t a person in sight. But of course, as I was reaching for the food someone walked in a said,

“Hey, what do you think you are doing?”

I was scared to say the least, but not as scared as I thought I would’ve been because he said it in such a calm, low voice.

“Sorry I’ve been traveling for 3 days, and I ran out of food and my phone died and…”

“It’s fine,” the very attractive boy who looks my age said, “take whatever you like I was actually leaving.”

“Would you happen to be going to the City of Divinity,” I asked with my mouth full.

“Actually, I just left there. Just me and my bike. We are headed to the Town of Wealth. Have you heard of it? I heard it was called that because no matter what it is that you do or want, wealth of some sort will find you…”

“Yeah, that's actually where I left…” The very attractive model standing in front of me looked at me like I was crazy and asked, “ Why would you want to leave there!?”

I sighed and said, “Long story, but it’s not important. Have a safe trip and I hope you enjoy it.”

He stared for a second and then nodded his head, and put his helmet on.

“You can have all the food that is left. I left a blanket and pillow, and you can have my portable charger. It never dies. Stay safe and maybe we could meet again.” With that he was off.

After that I never saw him again. Not that I expected it to be anytime soon. I didn’t even get his name and didn’t even think about his number because my phone was dead. That and I was too busy staring at him as he got on his motorcycle and left. Something about him felt familiar, but oh well. I guess he was just tired and stopped for a day or two. But he definitely knew what he was doing and how to survive outside. I’m just glad the barn had actual doors.

Eventually a month went by and I too became accustomed to living out here. I kept in contact with my brother and told him I was staying with a friend. Can’t believe he actually believed that. Like he hasn’t known me all of his life. I created a clothesline and washed my clothes in the lake and built on the guys fire pit to make it easier to cook.

However, it didn’t feel like home so I decided it was time to pick up and leave again. Cleaned up and tucked away the blanket and things in case someone else decides to stop by and take a chance at living in the wild.

I got lucky on the trip heading back out. Someone and by someone I mean, an old man and his wife, were passing by and they offered me a ride into town. What would’ve taken me maybe another two days, only took 2 hours and I was very grateful they were passing by. They were so sweet and absolutely the cutest. I paid them for the ride even though they insisted that they didn't want any money. They dropped me off at this cute little bakery combined coffee shop in town, as requested due to me being hungry again, and they were on their way.

As soon as I walked in, the smell of coffee and sweets took over my senses. A nice slice of chocolate cake caught my eye and I knew that's exactly what I wanted. As I walked up to the counter to order, a familiar red-head popped up from behind the counter;

“Lily!?...”

TO BE CONTINUED...