Cold Path

1

The wind blows through my long, brown hair as I travel down the highway leading me to Franktown, Indiana. The sky is cloudy and I see nothing but trees and long rows of cornfields.

I was raised in the big city of Chicago, but my parents were sent to prison a month ago which leaves me with my Uncle, Dan. He came to Chicago to live with me through that tough month, but decided it was time for me to move in with him. It is a big change for me to move from one of the biggest cities in the United States to living on my uncle's small farm and I only hope that I fit in the everyone else.

The three hour car ride has been tedious with whispers of country music playing softly in the car. I think about how much I dread going to a new school in middle of the second quarter. I was always an outsider at the school I grew up in. I like to write poetry and listen to music, but everyone else likes to crack dirty jokes and party.

I have never been too fond of change. I have experienced the same things in my life since I was a child. Change can be the best for people, but change can also be the worst for some others.

I just want to be happy again. With my parents not around anymore, I have not been myself lately and I am scared I will never find myself again. I want this change to be for the best and I want to be happy.

I watch out the window as my uncle pulls into a familiar neighborhood. I remember coming here four years ago when I was fourteen for my grandmas funeral. That was the first and only time I have been together with my whole family because they live all around the country.

The neighborhood is small, yet all of the houses have a bunch of land for their farms. There are many cornfields and gross farm animals from what I see driving by.

My uncle pulls into his two story house and as I step out of the car I immediately cringe smelling the animal manure lingering in the air.

"Home sweet home Grace," my uncle said as he grabs my bags and follows me inside.

"Something like that." I said under my breath to avoid him hearing me. Chicago will always be my home because that is where I was raised and made many great memories at. My parents may not have been there for me half of the time because they were always gone at work, but I know they love me and that's all that matters.

I glance from room to room noticing how the rooms are more country style than modern style. It did not surprise me though considering he lives on a farm in the middle of no where.

The kitchen is small with plain, white paint along the walls. There is a run down wooden table and a refrigerator that looks to be fifteen years old.

The living room is also painted white with wooden floor. The two red chairs stand out among everything else in the room. The television is small and I notice old family photos underneath it.

My uncle has never been married, so I understand why his house is so plain and dull. He once told me to never get into a relationship because love is a joke. I don't know wether to believe him or not considering that I have never been in a relationship before.

Uncle Dan leads me to my room upstairs which is surprisingly much bigger than what I had imagined.

"Make your self at home. I'll be down stairs cooking dinner if you need me. Oh, you also have your own bathroom through that door, but I never use it so there really is nothing in it." Uncle Dan mentions and walks out. Uncle Dan knows that I like to be alone, so I know he won't hover too much.

I glance around and I see a queen sized bed with dark blue sheets and pillows with a small table next to it holding a lamp. I walk over to the window that looks out towards his backyard and I spot two beautiful horses. One was a dark brown with black hair and the other one was white with brown spots.

I unpack all of my belongings and stuff them into my fairly large dresser. I pull out a photo of my mom, my dad, and I from this past summer. I instantly want to crumble the photo, but I forced myself to shove it into the bottom drawer of my dresser.

As I walk downstairs, I spot Uncle Dan cooking spaghetti in the kitchen wearing a funky looking apron.

He slightly chuckles, "I got this apron from your mother when I had just moved in."

I cringe at the sound of "your mother." I do not think I will ever fully comprehend that my parents are in jail for fraud. From what I know, their jobs were to steal credit card numbers for a company they worked at. I know that they would never do anything to hurt me, yet I feel deceived and abandoned.

"When will I start school?" I asked abrupt.

"I was hoping you'd be ready by Wednesday. It's a perfect day to go to school so you are not going a full week. My neighbors daughter will give you a ride since you don't have a car."

Wednesday is in two days. Two days until I start all over with new people and activities. I can easily say that I am scared out of my mind.

"Sure, That's fine. " I shrugged as he set the table. We ate our dinner in complete, awkward silence. I shuffled my way upstairs to my room and never made an appearance the rest of the long night.

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I know that this was a lot of information, but please keep reading! I am so excited for what I have planned
:-)