Summer Sights

06 | nights

As humans, change is inevitable.

We're constantly growing and being exposed to new things.

Building new relationships.

All while others deteriorate.

You can't expect for everything to stay the same as it's always been.

Because change, is inevitable.

Even if it's unwelcome.

Change won't pick up on your cues or knock on the door before it enters.

Change is impulsive and blind to your wishes.

So, we have to learn to adapt.

We have to learn how to accept the change, even if we didn't ask for it.

Because most of the time we don't ask for the change that comes. It will wriggle it's way into your empty corners and always manage to make itself at home.

So when things changed three weeks ago, and I found myself back in this small town after years of absence and tenacious protests, I had to adapt. 

Because change is inevitable, so there's no point in fighting it.

Through my adaptation process, I've grown accustomed to the Hakins lifestyle. The routine of waking up and going to work most every day has settled in and faces have become familiar.

There's Christian, the cook at ButterCup's, who's quiet and kind and always sets aside a plate of fries for Emily and I to snack on when we get the chance.

There's also the painfully apologetic Josh whose repetitive apologies and begs for forgiveness have become tiresome, but appreciated. At least he knows he fucked up.

And Emily, the girl with fiery hair that completely contrasts her personality, has slowly begun to grow on me and is my source for all the town gossip that I couldn't care less about.

Including gossip about the troublesome Andre who I've yet to speak to since that day at the clearing. I've seen him a couple of times on my way to work and just around town in general, but I've never struck up a conversation with him.

Emily insists that we'd make a great couple and that she would gladly set us up, but I'm not interested.

I can't be interested.

Change is inevitable, but it's also complicated.

♢♢♢

"So how is it over there, I believe the last time we talked you referred to it as the 'middle of nowhere'?" My dad asks over the phone. 

I haven't really talked to either of my parents since I've been in Hakins, besides the occasional text. So when my father's name suddenly popped up on my phone screen, interrupting my late night reading session, I wasn't as annoyed as I would be if it had been anyone else.

"Oh, it's all I could ever imagine," I sigh sarcastically. "Today I made a grand total of fifteen dollars and thirty one cents and last week I spilled a bowl of cheese grits all over me."

I'll have to make note that being fatally clumsy and carrying hot bowls of sticky substances isn't the best combination to work with.

"It can't be all bad can it?" His voice has an edge of hope that some good has come from my stay.

"No dad, it's not all bad," I tell him, hearing a breath of relief from his side. "I work with this really nice girl Emily and Aunt T has been a great chaperone."