The Guardian

First Day

*Janice's Perspective

After spending the entire day yesterday crying, talking, laughing and some more crying. We all passed out around 4 in the morning. I just woke up and it's 10:08 am.

I got up and began to stretch in my old pajamas that were only slightly smaller now. I looked around in my old room which was untouched ever since I left. It was kept clean but that was about it. The balcony connecting Alex's room and mine now had two little chairs to sit on. I got up and opened the window as a draft of cold wind entered the room. I stepped outside and noticed it began to snow. In this world, it was the beginning of winter and a small blanket of snow was already starting to cover the grass surrounding our home including the trees.

Alex knocked on the glass door in his room and came out onto the balcony. "Good Morning." He said wrapping his arm around me. "Morning," I said with a forced smile.

I didn't know why I was sad, I was safe, the war is over. I have absolutely nothing to worry about. Yet my heart still feels empty. Why?

Alex noticed I didn't feel the cold, or more like, too deep in thought to notice. "You still miss him don't you?" He said softly.

I instinctively nodded my head knowing that he was talking about Ody.

After a small conversation, I walked down memory lane while I went down stairs through the familiar hallway I used to go through every morning years ago. The stairway opened up into the living room where I nearly forgot that on my left was the way into the kitchen and the entrance out into the back porch and back yard. My mom and dad were making my old favorite; eggs, bacon and blueberry walnut pancakes.

I nearly cried again but held them back and smiled giving them both a big hug as my dad was pouring the batter into the pan and my mom making the eggs. I told everyone good morning to them for the first time in a long time. Mostly because when I said it back in the war, it was just a greeting. Now, after years, it is actually a Good Morning.

We all sat on the table, as the plates were set down we all stayed silent. We all took in the moment, remembering the times before. Enjoying this moment of us finally after so long, to eat as a whole family.

*1 Hour Later

After eating I caught up with everyone. How Jak and Kat are doing better in their careers, how Kat is now the police department sheriff. How Jak is now known as one of the best professors in his university and is now in a relationship. How my mother is now becoming a doctor to help people who are injured. A lot of things.

"Oh, hey can someone go get us some more groceries?" Dad said looking into the refrigerator.

"I'll go." Tyler said standing up from the table. I then stood up and suggested of me going. Tyler said, "Okay I'll go with-"

"I want to go alone, I think it'll be good for me to familiarize myself with the town again." My dad sighed and agreed. He pulled out his wallet and gave me $30.

I went to the front and took Alex's and Charlotte's car and drove to the nearest town. I looked at the list dad gave me.

Eggs
Milk
Flour
Fruit
Cheese...

I went through the market and got everything I needed. "That'll be $22.58." The lady at the cashier said. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the money dad gave me. As I counted it at the corner of my eye I saw someone I recognized. I looked and say Ody...

"Ody?... Hey!?" I said as he didn't seem to notice me calling him and walked out the market. I dropped the money and ran outside. When I stepped out he was nowhere to be found.

Was I seeing things?

I went back inside feeling depressed and remembering the day he left all over again. I miss him...

After I finished paying I grabbed the bags and started walking towards the car which was a block away since I couldn't find parking close enough. I kept my head tilted down to the floor trying to shake off the feeling. But the more I tried the more depressed I got. He was the love of my life, how can I forget someone like him? How can I find someone to replace him?

I crashed into someone on the way when I was lost in thought with the bag of eggs luckily still in my hand, "Sorry I didn't see where I was going." I said going down on one knee to pick up the groceries. 

"No, it was my fault I didn't see where I was going either." The man said. I avoided eye contact with him from embarrassment. After getting most of the things back into the bags there was one more thing, as I reached for it the man reached for it as well making us touch hands. We stood still while my hand was in contact with his, I looked at him and jumped back. He looked just like Ody. The voice, his look, everything. It was his doppelganger.

"What, do I got something in my teeth?" He said scratching his front tooth. looking for a crumb or piece of food. I laughed a bit at the joke and cried at the same time staring at his face. I covered my mouth trying to hold it in.

"Whoa, whoa. Look I'm sorry for dropping your things." He said standing up holding my things. "I just moved here so I'm not familiar with the town." He said.

I wiped my tears, "No no, it's not that. You just reminded me of someone I used to know." I grabbed my bags from his hands, "So you're new here?" I said trying to change the subject. "Yeah, just moved here a month ago. Here I'll help you take these."

"Thank You," I said walking towards my car.

Why does it feel natural talking to him?

After a nice conversation, we got to the car. I opened the back and he helped put the stuff inside. "I'm kinda glad I bumped into you." He said.

"What?" I said laughing a bit.

"No not like that. I just haven't got the chance to get to know anyone here." He said.

"I can show you around town if you want?" I said blushing a bit. "So you don't get lost."

"Ha ha, very funny. Sure I'd like that." He said. I held out my hand and shook his hand. "I'm Janice. You?"

"I'm Enzo."

"Enzo?" I said laughing a bit.

"Yeah, what?"

"That's a weird name." I said smiling.

"Aren't you a saint." He smiled back and we laughed. I gave him my number and drove away smiling like a teenage girl going out with a cute boy.

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