Welcome home

We pulled up and were surprised to see Persephone was out front in her best dress. She usually only wore that when she had to go to my school for a concert with my mom. I gave mom a side look as if to ask what's going on? She shrugged as she opened the door, I know some things were different but I didn't suspect that things would turn this weird for our once harmonious family. Persephone smiled as she seen Mom and I, though when she seen Marcos and another guard get out she frowned. It used to be females only in the household and she was not a fan of men. I was never told the story but I know that it wasn't a pleasant memory of hers so we would avoid the topic at all costs.

We all went inside and we chatted about the events of the past few weeks. The more we spoke however the more upset Persephone looked. I know she didn't approve of violence and thus when she was told of how violent our new life was she was visibly upset. Marcos stood behind us casually though you could tell that he was tensed up. Especially since that last time that he was here, they had taken me by force and had knocked out Mom and Persephone. I excused myself and went to my old room, there I sat and looked around at all of my old things. It felt like I had never left, I picked up my tie dye pillow and curled up on my bed with it. I didn't want to leave this spot for the rest of the trip.

" Marcos, I know you are there. You don't need to follow me everywhere I go. It's starting to get creepy. If you don't relax a little I will send you home. " I said just loud enough for Marcos to hear.

" Parker, if your Dad heard that I left you unprotected he would have my head. I prefer where my head is sitting right now. " Marcos chuckled.

" Do you think that this trip was a bad idea? " I asked cautiously.

" I don't think it was a bad idea, though I don't think everyone here in this little town like you being back here. I don't know something feels off since we arrived in this county. Like we have hundreds of eyes on us and that they aren't going to do anything but just watch. " Marcos shuddered.

"In a small town all they have to do is observe and gossip. Our arrival will have hit the entire county by morning I can guarantee it. " I stated calmly.

My shoulder was aching but I didn't plan on taking my pain medicine if I could avoid it. I laid there curled up until I drifted off to sleep. Marcos came over and covered me up with my blanket before sitting down on my chair at the desk across the room. He sat there silently watching the trees sway in the light valley breeze for a while before turning his gaze back to the room. He looked around the room and at my sleeping figure before resting his head on the desk dozing off to sleep.

The next morning I was up and out the door in my old clothes before anyone else was awake. The temperature had dropped a lot in the night and reached the low teens. Leaving the grass covered in frost, and the windows covered in fog. I looked up to the white sky and you could almost smell the snow that was going to be coming down. I know that may sound weird to many but when you grow up in a mountain town and you pay attention enough to the elements you can notice subtle changes like scents and sounds when the weather is changing. I walked around the 5 streets that were in this quiet town before heading to the park across the street from the methodist church. It looks like they put in a new park since I left. The old one was all good and was falling apart in several places. This one was all metal and plastic, the wooden bridge that we used to play billy goat gruff was gone but the memories were still there. I sat on the swings lost in thought when I heard someone walking towards me.

"I was just going down memory lane Stetson, didn't expect you to come over the moment you knew that I was back in town." I said calmly.

" Well Parker, you definitely haven't changed a whole lot since you left. Still a string bean who doesn't know what she wants to be. " Stetson teased.

" I think I have an idea now, though I don't think that I can ever come back to the way things were. I know that since we stopped being friends all those years ago you have been doing your best to protect me in your own way. However, times have changed and now it's my turn to protect this little town. Even if it means that from now on I won't be coming back here anymore. " I sighed resignedly.

" This town never treated you the same way that you treated it. You volunteered to help out whenever someone needed help even if they were cruel to you the day before. You changed my perspective on life and for that I will be eternally grateful. I only wish that you will be happy in your adventure, I know I am no saint and I have some fault in how you've been treated the past ten years." Stetson whispered.

" We were little kids when things fell apart, I don't blame you for any of it. I blame the narrow mindedness of this town, but even then I can't bear to think ill of this place. " I replied.

I got up from the swings and turned to walk out of the park. Stetson stood there awkwardly and when he seen my face I seen his eyes change. I don't know exactly what emotions there were in his eyes but I know that something in him seemed to break. I walked almost out of the park when I stopped.

" I'll be leaving tomorrow for good, since I never got to tell you when I lived here. I love you Stetson, you were my first love and I hope that one day if our paths meet again that you will find your happiness. " I choked out.

I walked away slowly not waiting for a reply back and just simply rushing back to the house. I wanted to leave immediately Thanksgiving be damned. I didn't want to cause this little town any more problems. Little did I know that there was another person in that park and she stepped out of the tree line with hatred in her eyes.