Unlovable

Chapter Three: Calling on Compassion

It didn't take Darcie long to find the perfect location to start over. She spent only an hour searching the internet while Harold was at work.

Her pursuit landed her on Craigslist, which was probably the last place she thought she'd find a new beginning.

She skimmed over many other ads before finally spotting a small cabin in Oswego, Virginia.

There was a single picture of the front of the cabin in the vague but intriguing ad. It was a rustic home, built in the 60's, surrounded by tall grass and beautiful sycamores, oak and willow trees. Behind the cabin was an array of forest, layered behind that raising earth- mountains maybe- but it was hard to tell in the picture.

It was a beautiful, tranquil place in its own right, and something about it immediately put Darcie at ease.

She thought it might've been the idea of moving to the last place Harold would think to look for her. She would be literally in the middle of nowhere. It seemed safe, silent and secluded, like the exact existence she was trying to discover for herself.

From the look of the single picture, the cabin held its original siding, which had a pastoral red log look to it. The home was described as a small, one bedroom, one bath home, but what more did she really need? With a view like that, Darcie hardly cared if it had indoor plumbing.

The ad also mentioned that it came fully furnished, which would make the whole move in process a million times easier.

Darcie decided.

For only thirty thousand dollars, she could potentially live happily ever after.

***

The bank teller visibly blanched when Darcie walked through the door of Regional bank and asked to withdrawal fifty thousand dollars cash from her and Harold's joint account.

"Ma'am," the young woman began "That's a rather large withdrawal. I'll have to check with my manager, but I think with transactions this large we'll need to speak with the other account holder and have them approve..."

Darcie cut her off quickly, holding her hand up in disapproval.

"No!" Darcie countered, perhaps too quickly.

The teller seemed surprised, but waited, giving Darcie a few much needed seconds to think through her story.

Darcie took a deep breath and smiled politely, trying not to let the woman see how much she was freaking out on the inside.

"The money's for our Anniversary present. Contacting him would completely ruin the surprise. A new car to replace the one I wrecked," she said gesturing toward her red, bruised face. "I'm sure you were wondering what had happened to me."

The bank teller nodded, as if fifty thousand dollars wasn't too much to spend on a car.

The woman disappeared behind a set of double glass doors and came out a few minutes later with the manager following behind close her.

Darcie was taken aback for a second, afraid that the woman found her story unbelievable. Then the manager smiled and placed a bag full of hundred dollar bills on the counter.

"Mrs. Kincaid," he said smiling as Darcie slid the bag to in front of her. "It must be some car."

Darcie laughed a friendly chortle as she peered quickly into the bag.

"It's amazing."

The manager nodded his head before gesturing toward the bag.

"It's all there, Ma'am. If you'd like I can have security lead you to a safe room so that you can count it."