The Sun Always Follows the Storm

Traffic was steady on I-75 North. It was a brisk spring day in northern Michigan. Naomi was about thirty minutes from the Mackinaw bridge. This would be the entry way for her new life. The doorway open to be able find herself again, while the other shutting out the suffering of her past. Her hands were gripping the steering wheel so tight, her knuckles started to swell. She couldn’t help thinking if she was making the right decision. Naomi was pandering the same thought the whole entire eight-hour trip. Is it worth to drop everything to start over again? And there it was, the bridge. As soon as she laid eyes on it, she knew it was her only hope for an escape.

There was still some ice on the lakes. However, it was expected since it was only the beginning of April. Naomi’s Jeep Wrangler displayed the temperature at forty-four degrees Fahrenheit. She paid her toll fee and headed toward the small town of Pine lagoon. She pulled in and viewed the colorful houses on the lake frontage. Naomi noted the small grocery store and bar. She also drove past the large boat shop that said “Geoffry’s” in large green and blue letters. She pulled out her phone and looked at the address. 214 Pine Lagoon Rd.

“200, 204, 208, and… 214” There it was. The driveway to her new small cabin. It sat on the top of a small hill with about an acre of frontage. There were small houses on each side of it and another right behind that all shared the driveway. Right across the road was Lake Huron and a boat dock that Naomi now shared with the three other households in the association. She drove up the hill and parked right behind the cabin. The original owners said they would leave the key under the door mat. Naomi unlocked the door and started unloading her bags. It had been about two years ago since she had been in the little cabin. She and her late husband Elijah would rent it out and spend two weeks enjoying that space. The entry way contained the open living room that had large windows displaying the lake. To the right were the doors to the two bedrooms. It had a small kitchen and bathroom towards the back. Naomi’s chest started to ache as she walked through it. She had so many memories here that were good, however, those moments were over now.

The previous owners left the cabin furnished. Everything was practically new. They had bought the property from a rental company and decided to put renovations into it. The couple only got to spend one year in the small oasis until they found out the wife had cancer. They knew the trips would not be possible anymore with the multiple treatments to come. The cabin came up for sale the same day Naomi started to look for a new place to live. One could say It was meant to be.

She made her bed and decided to lay down… She woke up to someone knocking on the front door. Great. The last thing she wanted to do was talk to the neighbors. She knew a couple lived in the house behind her now property year-round but the others were only summer homes.

She stayed in her bed for a couple of minutes, but the knocking continued. Naomi finally made her way to the front entryway. She only opened the main door, leaving the screen shut.

“Oh hi Honey, I noticed your car was here. I wanted to stop by an- introduce myself. I’m Tallulah and my husband is Harvey. We live in the little green house right behind you.”

Naomi gave Tallulah a forced smile, “Hi, I’m Naomi.”

Tallulah was short with tanned skin. She had long peppered hair that was in two braids. She was wearing a dear skin cloak that swarmed her.

“Well, if you need anything let us know. We’re practically the only people up here until about the end of May. The Trendler’s said you’d be here today, but not what time. I was surprised to see you here this early.”

“Yeah, I guess I was in a rush.”

“Do you need any help with your things? I may not be much help, but I can get Har-“

“No! I mean no, I’m fine. I got most of it already and I’ve been driving all night, so I just want to rest honestly.”

Tallulah’s smile didn’t budge, “Oh, okay Honey, well just give us a shout if you need anything.”

Naomi shut the door, she waited there until she heard footsteps leave the porch. The clock on the stove showed eight thirty A.M. She was exhausted from the drive, so she wasn’t lying about rest being on her to do list. Naomi was in no mood to converse with anyone yet. She wanted to be alone, hence the reason for moving to the upper peninsula of Michigan.

She went back to bed and tried to get some sleep, but she tossed and turned. Naomi rummaged through her suitcase and finally found her lorazepam. She swallowed the capsule whole and tumbled on the floor. She pulled her blanket off of the bed and tucked herself into a ball. Her therapist said time and space would heal her from the past, but at this point, it was making the pain tremendous.