Wayfarer

Josephine liked biking late at night. She lived in the same neighborhood her whole life so she knew every route and secret gems of this town. She would describe it as a neighborhood where everyone knew everyone. White-picket fences and awfully bright green lawns were the norm, it was expected of every neighbor in this town to upkeep that sort of perfection.

Even her family, who were originally from a grizzly and smog-filled city had succumbed to this little society named Everwoods. Everyone who lived in this town, died in this town, that’s the kind of town it was. Josephine had always wondered why no one ever left or moved away from Everwoods. It’s not like she wanted to die there nor did she want to live out her approaching twenties there. But she just couldn’t see herself leaving, a strange feeling she couldn’t place or comprehend.

“No one ever leaves Everwoods, not like they can or even want to anyways...” Josephine recalled those ringing words whenever she felt like running away from Everwoods, she remembered hearing those words from an elderly neighbor of hers who called herself, Abby.

No one knew how old Abby was, no one had even been inside her goddamn home! She was odd, oddly nice and oddly mysterious. Yet, no one questioned her, she always had this aura around her that made people trust her. Hell, even Josephine trusted her, perhaps, even with her life! As crazy as it was to even think that highly of someone she barely knew, there was something about Abby... Maybe, Josephine felt bad, Abby seemed to have no family or any company in her home. She looked like a lonely person and Josephine couldn’t help but feel for her.

As Josephine pondered these thoughts late at night, she slowly halted her bike, right in front of the perfect lawn of Abby’s crooked home. Josephine waved at Abby, who was sitting inside by her front window. Abby constantly sat there in her rocking chair, staring at the street in front her home and always waved at everyone who passed by. Josephine found this endearing, like a grandma greeting and watching her grandchildren-kind of endearing.

However, tonight was different. Abby held a small white candle that was lit in the palm of her hands. As Josephine examined the candle, Abby smiled at Josephine before blowing out the small candle.

Josephine didn’t think much of it, smiling back before biking back home. As she reached the comfort of her family’s home, she didn’t bother greeting her family, going straight to bed and letting the nightfall slowly become daytime.

As she woke up, her day went by normally, a day like any other day. She stayed home and did her chores and homework. Today, however, she overheard her parents whispering about something in the kitchen which was right next to the dining table.

“What are you guys whispering about?” Josephine grew annoyed by the whispers as she tried to finish her homework on the dining table.

“Didn’t you hear about Robin passing away in his sleep last night?” Her mother sighed sadly.

“He was so healthy, yeah he was old but he had just told me his blood reports came back great and wanted to celebrate with some beers,” her father said quietly. “Tragic, really, he was a good man.”

Josephine couldn’t help but think of a small white candle as she drowned out the conversation between her parents.

That small white candle, how its light was so bright but taken away as soon as it was lit, it’s tragic when you think about it. How bright something can be, then its light and warmth was gone before you knew it.

Josephine looked out the window that sat in front of the dining table, someone was waving at her slowly with an old smile.

Abby stood across the street, waving. Josephine couldn’t help but smile at her, even if there was tragedy running through Everwoods, Abby was always there. She said she always would be and that was sort of comforting.

Josephine looked down at her homework, the numbers and words jumbled together. A thought crept its way into her mind, engraving itself permanently.

She could never leave this town, even if she wanted to.