💜 Hope 💜

The Longing soul 🥺

Jisoo felt excited and relieved at the same time. She needed this, a break. A break from work, from family and a break from.... Life.

Her window was open and as they drove the wind swept her long black hair in her face. She tucked it behind her ear and searched for an elastic to tie it up.

"What are you looking for?" Lisa, her best friend asked. It was her idea to get away for a bit, to get in a car and just drive.

"An elastic for my hair," Jisoo said opening the glove compartment, "Mine is in my bag at the back."

"I think I have one in my bag, here!" Lisa said handing Jisoo her bag.

"Thanks."

The road snaked gray between the hills and the bright sunlight made almost everything seem greener. Jisoo couldn't remember when is the last she left the city. As a child they spent so much time outdoors as a family, going fishing, riding bikes, having picnics. Her parents loved nature. She remembered this one place where they used to go camping. It was right next to a river, no electricity, no proper facilities. You had to bath in the river and for a child, that was awesome! She remembered how she and her dad used to go down the river rapids on inflatables until you reach this calm stretch of water. They used to just float there for a while in silence, listening to the waterfall in the distance.

She longed for that calm now....

But the day her parents passed away, her whole life changed. She had to go live with her aunt and uncle who didn't even have a pot plant in their home. They had an apartment right in the city centre,  not a single tree in sight. For them, work, money and power were everything. And that's how they raised her.

She lost herself in their world, became driven just like them. The twelve-year-old, free spirited girl that came to them almost fourteen years ago, was forgotten. It was all about climbing the corporate ladder, getting the higher title that came with the bigger office.

She sometimes wonder how Lisa could be her best friend. Spur-of-the-moment Lisa, with her ten different jobs, still living with her parents, do whatever she wants, whenever she wants. Complete opposite from herself, with her life planned ahead weeks in advance, working most of the time. But what did all her planning, all her nights spent at the office help her now? Since that Monday three weeks ago, everything she believed to be important these last ten years seemed so insignificant. A tear rolled down her cheek, she tried to wipe it with her sleeve without Lisa noticing.

She didn't tell anyone about that afternoon, only Lisa. Not even her family. At the office she just handed in her leave of absence with immediate effect.

Lately, she started to think that maybe she saw her twelve-year-old self in Lisa. Lisa was the balance in her life. She was always the one that lightened any situation, didn't matter how serious it is. Jisoo was glad Lisa was with her. She knew it would be hard to face the next couple of months on her own.

"I'm starving! What do you say can we have lunch in the next town?" Lisa's words startled her back to the present.

"Yes, I can eat something."

They pulled into the next town and stopped at a gas station with a small restaurant. The smell of burgers sizzling on the grill made Lisa's stomach cry out for a hamburger and she turned to Jisoo, "I'll go order us some burgers, or do you want something else?" Jisoo didn't have much of an appetite lately and Lisa almost had to force her to eat something every time.

"Burgers are fine." Jisoo answered and they sat down at a small table looking out over a children's play area. A couple kids were playing and Jisoo couldn't help envying them of their free spirited nature and turned her head away.

Lisa saw the momentary sign of anguish "Jisoo," She hesitated, "maybe it'll help if you talk about it." Lisa didn't say anything else, she didn't want to push Jisoo, but she also knew that Jisoo need to talk about it some or other time.

When Jisoo didn't say anything, Lisa tried again, "Jisoo...." but Jisoo interrupted.

Barely audible, Jisoo said "Lisa don't, " She paused for a moment, staring at the red and white checked table cloth. Then her eyes found her best friend's and she said with a sigh, "I just want to relax the next couple of days, not to think or talk about stuffs." Her eyes pleaded with Lisa, "Can't we forget about everything until we go back?"

It broke Lisa's heart. Jisoo has always been so strong, so independent. She never showed her emotions, she learned to build up her walls so high that nobody have been able to break them down or even take a peek over them, but these last three weeks made Jisoo face many things.

She wanted to help her friend and if what Jisoo needed was to forget about everything for a while, she would try her best to make that possible and she would make it the best couple of days in Jisoo's life!  Lisa suddenly gave Jisoo the biggest smile, held out her hand, and said "It's a deal!"

After they ate, Lisa filled up the car while Jisoo went to the restroom. They then popped into the station shop to buy refreshments for the road.

"So, where to next? Do you want to go East or West?" Lisa asked, looking from left to right, with full of amusement.

Jisoo smiled,she appreciated the change in mood,knowing Lisa was a true friend. "What will I do without you!" She laughed, "I'll probably have an Itinerary planned right down to the minute."

"Nope, you'll probably still be in the city, hiding in your apartment." Lisa replied and they both laughed, but Jisoo knew Lisa's words wasn't far from the truth.

At that moment, Jisoo noticed a small advertisement printed on that shop window, "How about here? Mountain cabin for rent!" She read, "What do you think?" She asked Lisa with her fingers pointed towards the ad.

Lisa looked at the Ad and smiled, "Sounds perfect! And look, no WIFI! That is exactly what you need for the next couple of days."

"Okay, West it is then!" Jisoo said, turning towards the car and two of them hit the road.