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With that, I turned and walked out. After grabbing my extra bag out of the car, I took it inside the house.
I didn’t know what I expected when I walked into the house, but it certainly wasn’t what I got. Maybe I had been anticipating a much more rustic feel, consideringShort and Sweetwas off the beaten path and surrounded by trees.
This home had a modern and contemporary feel, and the colors used inside matched the exterior.
It had everything I would need, and I loved that the master bedroom had its own separate space, detached from the main living area that was made up of the additional sleeping spaces, living area, and kitchen.
I smiled.
This was a great start to a new beginning.
Once I’d finished perusing the space, I took off to the store to grab some provisions. While I was there, I decided that since I was giving myself one day to relax, I could pick up a book. I found one that looked interesting, bought it, and took it home with me.
I then spent the rest of the evening reading and getting lost in someone else’s fictional world.
Before I knew it, I was curled up in the bed.
That’s when all that had happened that day swam through my thoughts. This had been a big day for me. As comfortable as I was inside one of Hanna’s tiny homes, I knew difficultly was right around the corner and that things over the next few months wouldn’t be easy.
But that was just the thing.
It was time to start the next chapter of my life, even if that meant I’d have to fight to keep it.
THREE
Ellery
Today was the day.
Something about that had me feeling a mix of emotions.
On the one hand, I felt nervous. This was going to be a completely new experience, and I’d be doing it on my own with people I didn’t know.
On the other hand, I was excited. I was ready for this. I’d been preparing for this moment for ages now.
Granted, yesterday was just as monumental of a day. Sure, I’d done a lot prior to yesterday to prepare, but roughly twenty-four hours ago, I’d embarked on what would surely be one of the most pivotal moments of my life.
As life changing as it had been, there was still something about today that was simply different. Maybe it was because yesterday felt more like the end of a chapter in my life. Today was about a new beginning.
And even though there was no question this wasn’t exactly the kind of new beginning I would have ever expected I’d want or need in my life, that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to take full advantage of it.
It was far better than the alternative. It beat needing to be lost inside the hell I’d been in for the last eight years, living with Patrick.
So, I’d decided that, despite all the horrific reasons it was even necessary, today was going to be a good day.
Before I took off this morning, though, I had one thing I needed to do.
I walked out of the house, a place I was truly beginning to adore for all of its quirky natures, and I made my way to the reception and registration house. Last night, I’d gone over the calendar of events Hanna had given to me when I arrived, and I wanted to talk to her about them.
Much like had happened the first time I’d walked in, the door had barely just closed behind me when Hanna appeared.
“Good morning, Ellery. Did you have a good first night here?”
“Good morning, Hanna. And yes, I did. It was fantastic, and I’ve got to admit, I really love this place already,” I returned.
Hanna’s face lit up. “I’m so glad to hear that. Have you had breakfast? Would you like a doughnut?”
“What?”
