Damaged

Prologue

Two Years Ago

The crisp fall air fell over me and I couldn't supress the smile that unconsciously found my lips. My heart raced, my mind ran away, and I felt chock-full of giddy energy. This was easily one of my favorite seasons not to mention one of my favorite yearly events, the time in October when moose hunting opens. Not that I hunt myself. I never had any interest in killing anything, but I do have close family and friends who did which always make this week one of the most enjoyable weeks of my life. I move from the screened in section of the porch out into the opened end and lean against the ledge, breathing in the cool air.

The property isn't anything to extravagant, but it is and always has been home for me. I came to live with my grandparents when I was three due to a ridiculous custody battle between my folks. Shortly after it was finished my brother Darius was brought to live here too. My father had won custody of me and my mother was given custody of him, and when it came down to it both my parents decided not to separate us. Thusly how we'd both ended up living full time with my grandparents.

The house is situated atop a small hill, about 1500 square feet of open concept flair. It's cluttered by shelves full of nick-knacks, a few tables, and simple mismatched furniture that make it feel like home. The bedrooms are simple too. We had been aloud to choose our paint a few years ago. I chose purple with a fairy boarder, Darius chose a pale green with an amphibious boarder full of frogs and lizards. The ceilings were painted to match and they've never been painted again. At 19 years old you'd think it would make me feel childish, but it just makes me happy to be here with my amazing grandparents.

Just off from the house is a large shop. Three doors, the middle one significantly larger in order to fit the heavy equipment that we own. Another smaller garage sits off to the left of that one, just behind a wood shed and outdoor wood furnace. The smaller one holds the collectable cars. Two thirds of the covered porch on the house is screened in while the rest is open to the elements giving us shelter from the bugs in the spring and summer. By now they've all died off for the coming winter.

I smile gazing across the property to the small cabin set of on the far side inside a small alcove of trees. My Aunt and Uncle own that half of the property, their original cottage still standing strong across from our house. Their new one was built a number of years ago at the bottom of the small hill leaving the cabin to sit unused for most of the year. They only open it up for hunting week once a year for the guys to stay in. A small get away for the men to drink and play cards and hang out. Home sweet home.

I dug out my cigarettes and put one to my mouth, the flame flicking it to life as I took s long drag. There was a time when it burned but after years of smoking in school and now, it's almost habitual. My boyfriend hates it, one of Mitchel's biggest pet peeves but I smoke anyway, usually when he isn't around. I bask in the morning light my body tingling with excitement for the boys to arrive.

My mind trails as I smoke in silence, my parents and boyfriend are at work, Darius is at school. Only two more years and he'll graduate, probably not with honours like me but a pass all the same. I put my smoke out and head back in the house shedding my grey hoodie and moving to the stereo quickly cranking the country tunes. I smile to myself as the music flows out into the house giving me a sense of calm and excitement all mixed together. I turn it up as loud as the old stereo can take and begin my daily tasks. I'm not due to go back to work until Monday giving me three full days to spend with the boys, and putter around the house.

I dance away as I clean the house, do a load of laundry and take something out for dinner. By lunchtime most of my chores are done and I decide to shower to wash the sticky layer off my skin. I'd vacuumed, done the dishes, some laundry, cleaned the bathrooms and washed the floors, by hand working up quite the sweat.