Beauty in the Ashes

When I awoke I was momentarily disoriented since I didn’t recognize my surroundings.

I shook my head, clearing my mind of cobwebs.

“Meow.”

I smiled, looking over at Brutus. “Hey,” I greeted him, scratching him behind his ear. He twisted his head further into the palm of my hand and began to purr.

I pushed the covers off my body, heading into the bathroom.

The bathroom was the only room in the apartment that was closed off from the rest. My bedroom was open to the living room and kitchen. I didn’t mind like most would. I didn’t plan on having any sleepovers, so…

When I was finished in the bathroom I sat a bowl of food on the ground for Brutus. He happily chowed down, purring as he did. I couldn’t help but crack a smile at him.

I’d picked up a coffee maker while I was shopping yesterday. Luckily, I’d taken the time to set it up last night, knowing I wouldn’t have the patience to do it now. I pushed the button to brew it and hopped up on the counter to wait for it. I needed to do more shopping today and I also needed to find a job. Yeah, a job was a must.

My parent’s were pissed that I’d spent four years in college getting a business degree, only to take off after graduation with ‘no aspirations’. They were pissed at me for a lot of reasons, actually. Reasons that were far too painful to even think of.

I was only twenty-two. I wanted to have fun and live a little before I settled down. I had never had the true teenage experience. I guessed I was rebelling now. I wanted to go to parties and make friends with the wrong people. I wanted to work at some neat little shop and stay up all night. I wanted to get a tattoo and shout from rooftops.

Silly, I know, but it’s what I wanted.

When the coffee was ready I poured the steaming liquid into one of the mugs I’d bought yesterday. I didn’t need to add sugar or creamer. I took a sip of the bitter liquid and winced. It was perfect.

I drank all the coffee—my breakfast of choice—and showered. I pulled my wet hair up into a knot on my head and dressed in comfy clothes. I wasn’t planning to head out yet. Right now I wanted to unpack and get settled.

I had only brought what I could fit in my car from Texas, which meant I was really lacking in anything except clothes and bedding. Luckily, I had enough money in my savings to get a couch and other things.

I sat on the floor, unpacking boxes and organizing my clothes in the closet. Brutus watched me with quiet curiosity.

Having Brutus around made me feel not so alone.

Not that I minded being alone.

When all the boxes were unpacked I flattened them down and tucked them under my arm so I could head outside to dispose of them.

“I’ll be right back.” I told the kitten that was currently scampering after me.

I bound down the steps and around to the side of the building. I dropped them in the dumpster, satisfied that I wasn’t being a complete procrastinator and had managed to get all my unpacking done.

I rounded the building again, to go back inside, when I not

iced a lean figure walking down the street—away from the apartments.

His head was bowed, as if deep in thought, and he walked quickly.

I knew who it was.

Caelan.

If I hadn’t recognized the posture and overall attitude of the person walking away from me, the paint stained clothes would have given him away.

I didn’t even know him, but I knew enough to see that he was a strange guy.

I couldn’t figure out what his issue was. It was something more complex than him being an artist. There was more to him, I could see that, but I had no intentions of finding out what. Guys like Caelan were bad fucking news. I had come here to find myself, not to get wrapped up in some mystery.

???

Caelan