Never Truly Lost

Chapter 2

My life in Littlebrooke hadn't turned out like I had imagined it would. I had thought that I would be the strange woman whom nobody spoke to and that lots of rumors would start up. I was prepared to be alone and isolated. I wanted that. But Carrie had changed my plans. 

Littlebrooke is a little town in the Middle-of-Nowhere just off of the high way that leads to Who-Knows-Where. Despite all of this, it is a great town. It has old roots but it is adjusting well to the modern world. 

Littlebrooke has its own Prep and High schools, a small- but effective, law firm, a gym center, a town hall, a library, a hospital with an emergency center, private doctor's offices complete with psychologists, dieticians, physiotherapists, audiologists, etc. It even has its own rehab center, Littlebrooke Rehabilitation Center, in the valley. Littlebrooke is set up in such a way that it is completely self-sustaining and thus it can survive in the middle of nowhere on its own.

Overall, it was a quaint little town. You know the kind- where everyone knows everyone and each person that you see on the street will wave, smile and ask you how you are doing. I found this strangely comforting.

Most of the shops or attractions were on the main street that ran straight through the town or the surrounding roads leading off of the main street. Ironically, the name of said street was Main Road and as you entered the town from the south, each road was named according to their order of appearance. The first one on the left was First Street; the next one on the right was Second Street and so on. If you carried on straight down Main Road and out of the main town you would reach a fork in the road. The right fork led to where I now live and the left fork continues on. I'm not actually sure where, I just know that if you take the next road left it leads down to the valley and to the rehab center. Like I said before, quaint.

Despite being so isolated, Littlebrooke is an active town. It has its own festivals and celebrations, public holidays and traditions. It as a town that could keep me busy while at the same time giving me space to heal and find myself again- or at least find out who I am now.

By that time, Carrie and I had set into a sort of routine. She would work in the mornings while I spent the day at home, cooking, shopping or reading. Carrie would get home and she would come over to my place and sit in the lounge area with me while she did her marking and I would read or plan for the next days' lesson. Later, we would enjoy supper together in the kitchen and then it would be our time. We would watch movies, talk or have a night out on the town. 

Weekends were harder. Carrie realised early on that I was not comfortable in crowded places. I loved the fact that she didn't comment and merely adjusted her plans so that I would be more comfortable. This led to us attending the late night movies in the local theatre or walking about the less populated and less crowded areas around town. If it was a quiet day then we would venture out onto the main street and window shop until it again became crowded.

Main Road may have held all of the main attractions, but if you looked beyond into the little side roads, you would find the true gems. This is what Carrie and I spent our wondering nights doing. 

Even though she had lived in Littlebrooke for three years prior to me, there were still many new sights for the two of us to find during our explorations. My favourite was when we found Mr Timmons's Café on Fourth Street. It was done up in frilly pinks and delicate beiges with round wooden tables for the guests and comfortable armchairs to complement the tables. The owner, Mr Timmons, of course, served a spectacular assortment of teas along with a few simple and select pastries. It was a small wonder hidden away in a corner, usually quiet and most often frequented by the older generations, making it a perfect place for Carrie and myself to have our quiet time.