Our Goodbye

Walking a new path

"How are you planning on painting such a huge house dear!? Youll ask us for help for sure, right?"

My mind was on the clouds, literally, on the clouds. I've never seen such a blue sky, and the white clouds contrasted so beautifully. "Is this heaven...?"

"What dear?" Lydia asked

"Oh, nothing" I tried to remember what she said,  but once again I got distracted by something else "Red, look!" 

I practicaly ran trough the street to a park were some ducks were chilling on a pond in the center of it. "Miss Lydia! come see, the're ducklings swiming on the pond! So cute" I whipped out my camera to take some shots, I couldn't resist it, they were adorable.

"Slow down sweety, they're not going anywhere you know?" 

"I've never seen ducks this close before, neither has Red" The only wild animals i've ever seen were the pigeons back at the city, and I must say, they were kinda agresive when food was involved, sometimes, when I walked Red on the park we could see squirrels and crows too.

"Its common to see them in Silver Woods, youll see them quite often flying around and even on your back yard. Speeking of which, what colour did you say you wanted to paint your house?"

"I was thinking off-white, do you think they have it on stores around here?" Once I finished taking multiple pictures of the ducks, I followed Lydia down the street were we were a few minutes ago.

"Probably not...but! you're in luck, my friend's store is near by, we can ask her, maybe she has some" She smiled. 

We walked for fifteen minutes trough stores and small buildings, until we reached town square. Quite lively for ten o' clock in the morning I must say. But the scenario was rather warm, I couldnt help but smile.

People having a cup of coffe in the diner, going inside stores and saying hello, kids running and cars going from one side to the other. I guess it's a typical morning for the people in town, but for me, it was the start of many to come. Even Red was having fun...his tongue was sticking out while staring at the people in the square. Goofy dog.

"Over here Ellouise" We went inside a grocery store beside the flower shop, the name was quite intriguing: Sun and Moon. 

"Meet my dear friend Clara, we've known each other since we were kids"

"We practically grew together i'd say" Clara looked younger than Lydia, everything about her was beautiful, her dark skin was so smooth I couldnt even see a wrinkle on her, her eyes reflected years of wisdom and her smile... it was enchanting.

"This is Ellouise, this is her first time in Silver Woods" She placed her arm around my back and pushed me slightly.

"Hi ..." Why am I so shy ?! "I really like this town, it's so peacful, and your store, I like it a lot" I smiled with sparkles in my eyes. I wasnt kidding, Clara's store was really bright and colorfull, shelves with so many kinds of bread that smelled so nice, fresh vegetables placed on baskets over barrels and so many other things that looked both delicious and curious.

"Nice to meet you, and who's this fella?" Clara stepped out of the cash register and crouched to caress Red on the belly.

"This goofy dog is Red" I laughed. I know he's friendly and all, but this is way too much. "Maybe he wants to overshadow me on being friendly".

"Looks like he wants everyones atention indeed" Lydias coment made us laugh, even Red was barking with amusment.

"How long are you staying here?"

"Actually, she just moved here, she bought the old property near the forest" 

"Really now? Well, Silver Woods is a preatty  calm place to live, did you live in a town before girl?" Clara asked with interest in her voice. I guess I can tell them my storie, after all, if she's friends with Lydia, she's someone I can trust and open up.

"Well...im... from the city, moving here is kinda of an adventure and...something I never thought I would do. I wasn't really happy back there, I just graduated from university a few weeks a go and discovered that...my life wasn't what I thought it was, so I looked for a new place far away from the city and Silver Woods caught my eye on a book. I was curious of the name as well"

"Oh, you haven't heard the storie of the founding fathers have you?" I shake my head in respons.

"Well, it goes something like this..." Clara was about to speak, when a young lady came inside the store and asked for help on her grocery. "Excuse me girls, duty calls" and with a smile, she left to atend the customer.

"Youll hear the storie some other time, don't worry" Lydia was searching for something behinde the register bar and pulled out a magazine and a peace of paper.

"But...why can't you tell me? It sounds like a mistery storie" She hands me the magazine and tells me to pick the color of the paint I want and right the order down on the paper.

"Because, only Clara can tell such a storie, believe me, no one can tell it like she does" That just makes it more intriguing than it already was.

Once I finish wrighting the order, I place them in the bar and say goodbye to Clara "We left you a paint order Clara!" she shouts from the door.

"Ok! See you later girls!" We wave goodbye and head on to the street again.

Walking in the cold air of the mountains on winter felt amaizing, breathing clean air was refreshing, one breath and my lungs were filled with nature it self. Red was going from one side to another, smelling everything he encountered. Since it snowed early in the morning, the floor was weat and a few puddles were made as well, yet Red didn't mind at all. I've never seen him enjoy getting wet before, and this water was really cold.

"Well dear, were do you want to go next? It's still early to go back home, maybe you want to shop a few things for the house?"

"But, weren't we just at miss Clara's store?" I asked with confusion.

"Don't worry, I also placed some orders for you: some bread, vegetables, oil, flour, sugar... you could say that you have enough food for a week" she winked "complements from George and me"

"You don't have to do that miss Lydia" I shake my hands and pull out my wallet from my purse but she stops me from giving her any money.

"All you need to say is thank you dear, we like to help new comers, especially when there as nice as you"

"Ill repair you with a breakfast then" I say while putting my wallet back in my purse. Ill make sure to repay them with a great meal, that's for sure.

"So, now that foods taking care of, we could go to the hardware store to buy what we'll need for your house, that's where Henry works, our faithfull handy man"

"Ok, let's go" 

Walking around town felt like the world around me was alive, people here seem to have colors on everything they do or say, kinda like how I felt while walking down the wide streets of the city, I was trying to reach the ones around me but, no one seemed to care, like, they were 'happy' the way they were, fake. But here, I wasn't even trying, they were reaching out to me.

***

Hey every one! sorry for the really late update, I just finished the semester and it was really hard to whrite and do tons of projects. But here it is! What do you think of Clara? I love her!

Stay tune for the next chapter!, youll finaly get to meet our misteryous boy Gabriel! 

See you soon!