*updates every few days*
The bustling town of Albright is located in seaside New England. Charming, traditional, yet artsy and modern. Known for its music scene and parties, the town attracts a lot of the young crowd during the summer. Locals and ou...
When you lose someone you love, you lose track of time. I don't know if it happens for everyone, but that's what happened for me. After Sarah's funeral, I became a different person. The person I was with Sarah was fun, smart, and talented. The new Archie was lazy, unmotivated, and easily agitated. I keep saying, when Sarah left, she took my heart with her. My heart included my music, my studies, and my will to care about anyone or anything.
It was mid-May before I knew. I had just barely finished my spring semester when my mom told me the news.
"We're going to spend the summer in Albright. Your dad and I bought a new house right in our old neighborhood. You're more than welcome to join us if you feel up to it."
We moved away from Albright five years ago. It's one of those towns where everyone knows everyone. It's filled with its fair share of yuppies, hipsters, socialites, and everything in between. The best thing about Albright was the beach. I remember swimming and surfing all the time before I moved away. I've been back a few times since then, a few day trips here and there, and visiting my friend Levi, who still kept in touch with me.
I didn't have to do much thinking about whether I wanted to spend the summer in Albright with my parents. I wanted to get away and forget about things for just a minute. Levi always told me about the beach house parties that happened on the shore. I was intrigued and knew that was the environment I needed to be in to clear my head. I was tired of being sad. My depression has been controlling me for too long, and it was time to let loose.
I packed my final bag into my trunk and started my car to make the three-hour journey to Albright. I reached into my pant pocket and pulled out the envelope. The envelope that's been haunting me since February.
My name, in perfect cursive, written on top. Sarah left me this letter and I still haven't read it. My guilt was preventing me from reading it. I didn't want to know what it said. It will be worse for me to know I did something to cause her death, than it was to actually lose her. I stuffed the envelope into my center console like the coward that I am. Maybe one day, I will grow the balls to read the letter. But right now, I can't handle the thought of Sarah. It still hurts too much.
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Mr. and Mrs St. Martin did not let a dollar go to waste when purchasing their new ocean front home. I pulled into the address I was given to see an all-white, top to bottom window panes, home. It was bigger than our previous house in Albright. I don't see the point in big homes when you have a small family. But hey, it's not my money.
It was a little past 9:30pm when I park my car and am immediately greeted by my parents. My mom's warm smile is infectious and I automatically embrace her. Dad grabs my bags out of my trunk, insisting he doesn't need my help while my mom leads me inside to show me the new house.
The interior is just as impressive as the outside, a clean, modern feel to everything.
"Your room is upstairs." Dad points to the stairs. "You have your own bathroom and enough privacy for you to feel like you're getting your space from us."
Yeah, I'm a little spoiled shit, but I am grateful for my parents. I've always had a great, trusting relationship with them. These past few months, they've gone above and beyond to ensure their son is okay. But there's only so much they can do. I have to face that shit on my own.
The room they provided me for the summer is spacious and more than what I need. Minutes after I begin unpacking my bags, my phone rings. The screen reads: Incoming: Levi B.
"Bro!" his voice booms as I pick up his phone call. "I am coming to get you right now! I have a surprise for you."
"Alright, man. Give me a few minutes and I'll be right down. Do you know where I am?" I ask.
"It's me, dude. I know where everyone is." He's right.
Keeping busy with Levi is what will keep me sane this summer. I let myself drown in my sorrows all winter and spring and lost myself. I know Sarah would be disappointed with me if she was here.
After a quick outfit change, I head downstairs to let my parents know where I will be headed. Surprisingly, Levi is already with my parents, catching up just like old times.
"Archie!" he yells, throwing his hands in the air before he pulls me into the biggest bro hug.
"Levi says he's taking you out tonight." My mom states, "just let me know what time you'll be home."
"Don't worry, Nora. I'm going to take care of him. If it's too late he can just crash at my house." He smiles.
"Are your parents in town, Levi? I would love to catch up with them." My dad interferes.
"Not, yet, sir. They'll be here at the end of June." Levi replies.
"What are you boys going to get into tonight?" my mom asks curiously.
I had no idea, so I look to Levi for a response.
"A few friends are getting together at my house to welcome Archie, here, back to town," he says throwing his arm around me. "Something small and fun to ease him back into Albright."
"Alright mom, we're going to head out." I give her a kiss on the forehead, and give my dad a quick hug before they can ask more questions. I know they're not naïve, but I can only imagine what Levi REALLY has planned.
Levi follows along after saying his goodbyes to my parents. Once past the door, he leads me to his truck: A brand new matte black, Mercedes G-Wagon. I shouldn't be surprised by the amount of wealth in this town. My parents aren't living in poverty. They sit comfortably in the upper middle class, but they aren't in the top tax bracket in Albright. It's pretty affluent and Levi's family is part of the 1%. He's a Yale legacy and somehow, a part of the Kennedy family tree. Yeah, that's the kind of money Levi Bradshaw's family has.
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"Dude, this is sick" I say as I slide into the passenger seat.
"So nice, right?" he smiles and begins driving away while we listen to some hip-hop.
It's not long until we pull into his family's beach house. And when I say beach house, I actually mean beach mansion. Levi's house is not the one that I remember. Driving in, I can see more cars than I was expecting.
"This is not a small get together, man" I laugh.
"Nah," he responds. "It's memorial weekend and you're officially back in town. This is your welcome back party, Archer. All the girls, beer, and as many lines as you can take."
Somehow, Levi knew exactly what I needed to get out of my funk. I exited his truck and made my way into the party, hoping tonight would give me insight into what this summer is going to be like.
