The Sinner

104

Six years later

This was the first time that I returned home in four years.

But yet nothing about this place has changed. It's like time stood still here in Outer Banks, just as it always had.

The small shops still looked the same, the people, the way it smelled, the condensation building up on my windows as I drive through the humidity. Even the way I feel when I come back to this place still feels the same.

Although I guess you could say I'm different now. I'm twenty five. I went through college, and I'm in the process of getting my masters in teaching. And I'm now living with Ryan, who gladly welcomed me into her life again once I went back to UNC. Now that she's in my life, I don't know what I'd do without her.

Sarah and I still talk every so often. She went away to college too, and I think she's living with John B somewhere around here. I guess we have a lot to catch up on when I see her soon.

Maggie was waiting for me outside on the steps when I pulled into the familiar driveway. Her smile lights up her face, just as it always does and she says something into her phone before hanging up and slipping it into the pocket of her light wash jeans.

Her smile was contagious, feeling the effects of it as a smile grows onto my lips. She rushes down the stairs, running to me with open arms. I let out a laugh, letting her perfume fill my nostrils, and her blonde hair tickle my cheeks.

"I missed you," She breathes into my ear. "Promise me you'll never not see me for that long ever again."

"Maggie I just saw you two weeks ago," I laugh, letting go of her. "We had lunch in Raleigh!"

"Two weeks is too long!" She defends, grabbing my overnight bag from the backseat. "You know I have separation anxiety."

I smile, linking my arm with her, "Well I'm home for a second or two now. So that can all go away."

"Finally," She jokes, as we walk up the front stairs together. "I figured we could make you something to eat, get some coffee and then head down to the hospital."

"That sounds good to me," I say, watching Maggie put my bag on the stairs. "How's he doing?"

"He's okay now. The doctor's took really good care of him."

"Good."

My dad got in a really bad car accident last week. It was a drunk driver who hit him one night. He broke a couple ribs, and has a concussion. But it luckily wasn't anything too serious. They're keeping him there to monitor him for the next three days. So I decided it was probably time to come home. Finally face what I've been running from these past six years.

"Do you want chicken parm? I made some last night, I could warm it up for you," Maggie says kindly,

"That would be great Maggie, thank you."

"How's Ryan doing?" She asks.

"She's good," I say, "I think her job is starting to grow on her."

"Oh good," Maggie says, putting a plate into the microwave. "I know she's been struggling to find a job she actually enjoys."

"It's hard, but at least she has the experience to be able to look around now."

"True."

"How are things around here?" I ask, like I always do.

"Same as always," She smiles at me over her shoulder. "Nothing new."

I guess there was still a part of me that was hoping she'd fill me in on something substantial. Maybe something with our neighbors, or Sarah and John B are getting married, or, you know, something happened with him.