Because of You

Chapter One: Starting Anew

Jen and her crew of 3 farmhands, 2 horses, and a dozen chickens, arrived in upstate New York, just outside Shawangunk Ridge. The down payment was deposited on a delightful piece of farmhouse beauty that resided on 6.5 acres, located just north of the Orange County border.

It was a decent 5,048 sq. ft. farmhouse with 4 bedrooms. It was in need of renovation, but it was on plenty of land, had pristine interior, a big red barn included with the property, and it wasn't too far from the NYC. In fact, it was only 90 minutes away.

With the extensive renovations needed, Jenipher had to find a job in the city to help cover the costs. She would also need a temporary residence in the city, in close proximity to whatever job she was able to get; leaving the farmhands at the house to care for the animals in her absence.

Jen promised she would visit her best friends as often as she could, while renovations were underway. But, such improvements would take months, if not a year or two, before they would be complete. They could only take place when the money was available, but Jen would not give up. She needed her horses as much as they needed her, so she was determined to make things work. With that promise, she headed into the city.

It didn't take long for her to find a job. She found a little flower shop that was run by a small elderly woman named Mrs. Ogletree. As Jen made small talk, the woman was captivated by her charming Southern drawl. Mrs. Ogletree was so enraptured; she immediately offered her a job.

Surprised, Jen kindly accepted. It was then she asked if she knew of a temporary place to lodge until she could get on her feet. Mrs. Ogletree directed her to an adequate apartment complex two blocks down, informing her of a vacancy a few floors above her dwelling.

Jen was elated with the luck she was having, and departed from Mrs. Ogletree with a tentative schedule for her new job. As she headed to the complex mentioned, she saw that Mrs. Ogletree had her starting on the job in one week, giving her enough time to gather the few necessities needed for her potential temporary home.

When she arrived at the apartment complex, she found it to be a bit bleak on the outside with a large alley to the left. The only available apartment was on the top floor, with roof access just beyond the door. It was quite roomy for one individual, but Jen thought it to be commendable. It wasn't the countryside, but it was perfect in her eyes; and she immediately agreed to take it.

Within a week, Jen had what little furniture she needed to make her temporary dwelling a home. Nothing special, only what she needed. Growing up on a farm, her animals and farmland had always provided what she needed, and she rarely went into town. This city life was going to take some time to get used to.

The smells around her ranged from pleasurable to nauseating in a blink, and the air was difficult to breathe. She often found herself on the rooftop, above all the smells and strains of the city. The roof soon became her solace when the stresses of her chosen path started to weigh on her heart.

Over the course of a few weeks, Jen quickly became aware of her surroundings. Strange noises in the alley below often woke her in the night. She had no qualms with living alone, as she was an avid concealed firearms carrier; and she kept her firearms readily available when she was home.

She soon became uneasy and chose to start locking her door and windows after sunset; keeping her .45 caliber Glock 21 under her pillow. She carried her pistol every time she left the house. It gave her peace of mind as she walked from home to work and back again. Since Mrs. Ogletree lived in the same building, she made sure her new boss made it home safely as well.

Jen grew more confident about her new life in the big city. She would wake to face every day refreshed and with optimism, even after Mrs. Ogletree retired and the flower shop was closed down the month after she started.

Jen sought out other jobs as the weeks went by. She was no stranger to hard labor, and she took what she could get within walking distance.

She was a hard-working individual that greeted the streets of New York with a positive attitude and a warm smile every morning on her way to work. She acknowledged everyone she passed, and even helped the homeless when she could. Her greetings were reciprocated with enthusiasm, and she quickly became a well-known face on the streets.