After a restless night of tossing and turning, I dragged my weary body from the bed and padded into the kitchen. In my hasty decision to make the journey up to the mountain yesterday, I forgot the essentials like coffee, milk, bread - what will keep me alive in the middle of nowhere. That sounds so ridiculous since I feel like my world is crashing down, but human beings are strange creatures, even when you feel like you won’t be able to breathe anymore, you still crave for things to eat and drink.
I shake my head, and check the time: 5 am; I’ll have to go to the store when it opens. The temperature in the house is still low, but I didn’t mind it after it becomes my only companion. Still, I put the last wood on the fire, just to be doing something rather than drowning in my sorrows.
I pulled on my boots and my coat and headed outside for more wood, hoping that would distract me enough to keep going. I spent my childhood holidays up here. There is something peaceful here with the chirping birds, huge trees, and no person in sight. It gives people a chance to focus on themselves and have a getaway from the chaos of the city and mostly people. I used to love it here because of nature itself, feeling like a boy’s scout and helping my dad to chop the firewood were fun. Now, the reason of my interest is totally different, though. I came here to search for myself, to find my sanctuary and grieve in peace.
I took the wheelbarrow and walked into the woods to find a log to chop up. After hours of physical labor, the fog has started to lift a little, I felt as though I was in a better mind space. Exhausting yourself is one of the best therapies in the world. I loaded the logs into the wheelbarrow and took them back to the Cabin when a noise stops me in my tracks. I had to go and investigate.
I walked towards the storage unit outside, I could hear the sounds of whining. I noticed the door to the storage area was ajar and with tentative steps I took a look inside. I don’t know what I was hoping for but I know I was praying it wasn’t a mountain bear.
A black furry animal was laid there shaking and whining in the corner; it looked like a dog, but I couldn’t be sure until I got closer. I took little steps so as not to scare the poor thing as I studied its fur, it was only a furry animal. I kneeled down next to it.
Is that a Labrador? What the hell is it doing in my storage area?
Leaning closer, I reach out to touch and caress his fur. First, he moves back with fear, but when senses I'm not there to hurt him he moves closer to me. He then rubs up against my legs trying to use my body heat.
Such a beautiful animal. Someone must be looking for him. I can’t imagine that anyone could treat such a beautiful animal like this on purpose. He must be lost? But his fur is matted in places, and he's so underweight.
Noting that I should let the sheriff know about the missing dog, I lift the beautiful creature into my arms and take him into the Cabin. He growls slightly when I put him near the fireplace so I back away from it and lie him down, he lies on his stomach and gives out what sounds like a sigh. My heart pains for him. I try to prepare something for him to eat, but there isn’t much in the house. I'll need to buy him some food.
After a quick phone call to the sheriff about the dog, I shower and then head to the market.
~*~
Pulling up at the market I park my R8 up at the side of the road and head inside. This car really isn’t appropriate for the mountains, such an absurd luxury; it sticks out like a sore thumb among the trucks in the town, but it’ll have to do for now. Inside the store, as I put my items on the conveyor belt I hear a loud bang, at first, I don’t take much notice of it like most of the things these days; nothing is enough to get my attention lately, and this was no different.
After I had paid for my things, I headed out of the market door with the bag in my arm and what I see in front of me doesn’t help my foul mood today. Someone has tried to park their truck in the back of my car! Just like I’m in the right mind to deal with this shit right now.
“What the fuck!” I groan at myself, not noticing the petite woman standing next to the truck with her hands over her mouth in shock.
“Fuck!” I kick my tire with frustration and the anger that was growing inside me for days. I growl and get hit with the sadness inside me, transforming it into anger and physical violence toward my car, not with a single fuck to give what people would think of me.
The universe is playing tricks on me, trying to make my life harder than it’s already been. I kick the tire one last time, targeting my anger toward my car. I bend over to look at the damage as I see the woman move towards me in my peripheral vision. Straightening up I slowly turn to face the
culprit, making a quick check on her to be sure she is okay and in one piece. When I notice, she didn’t have a scratch on her, my anger shows itself.
“What were you doing, could you not see my car there?” I shout at her. “You could have been hurt!”.
“I’m so sorry! Oh, my Goodness, I’m so sorry. I didn’t see your car. I was distracted,” she says troubled and scared, probably because of my outburst.
“Distracted? Is that an excuse? Do you know how lucky you are?” I yell at her, seeing red.
April couldn’t even drive a car, couldn’t have a chance to get her driving license because of the stupid monster that ate her alive yet here this woman doesn’t know how lucky she is to have those small luxuries, but wasting them because of distractions.
“I’m sorry, okay?!” Her voice is high pitch now with the anger, I assume.
“There are people out there, dying when all they want is to live. Yet here you are, getting distracted and throwing your life away, causing damage!” I don’t even know if she hears me right now, I’m on a roll with my frustration I don’t even keep eye-contact with her. Maybe it’s not fair for me to act like this, but then again, I’m angry at everything and everyone I don’t care about being fair or not.
“No one was hurt. Calm the fuck down a little!” She shouts back.
“Thankfully!” I snap and turn back to get inside my car, but she stops me. “Let me pay for the damage as a sorry?” she asks, nervously, but I sense an underlying frustration in her anxiety.
“I don’t care about the car. I don’t want your money. Go see a doctor to be sure you’re okay. And do the world a favor and stay away from the road ‘til you learn how to drive!”
“How dare you talk to me like that?! Accidents happen. I’m not proud of it, and I said sorry. You don’t have to be a dick!”
“You hit my car, but I’m being a dick?! Were you not looking where you were going?” I frown at her as she bites her lip and looks down towards the ground. Before I can feel guilty, she raises her head, narrowing her eyes at me with her hand on her hip as she taps her foot at me.
“Enough, okay? I have already said I’m sorry I don’t know what else I can do. I thought there was more room. It’s an accident, stop shouting at me like I did it on purpose!” She purses her lips and whips her silvery blue hair around as she struts back to her car.