The Cabin by the Lake

Graduation day was hot. There was not a single cloud in the sky and the sun was brighter than usual. My grandmother prepaid for a message to go across the stadium, “I’m so proud Emily! Use my gift to help your dreams come true. Love Grandma”. She was the only one who always called me Emily, everyone else called me Em or Ems. She and my brother were the only family members there, and that’s how I wanted it to be…I took a few pictures with my friends before heading to my mom’s house. I dreaded going to the childhood home of mine. “When you get settled call us! We want to see this little cabin!” Casey beamed with tears of joy. Her short red hair was extra frizzy today, she was dying it back to her natural brown color before she starts working. She got her dream job as a lawyer and was starting in a week. She gave her a big hug, “I will!” Sarah joined in the hug too, her long, blonde hair wrapped around me and my long brown hair wrapped around her. “We loved Grandma A too, you know that Ems right?” I smiled and kissed both their cheeks, “I know, and she would want you guys to visit!” Sarah was starting her student teaching next fall, and was going to start working in a day care over the summer next week as well. But for me? I had no job opportunities lines up…that’s what you get when you’re a photography major. I hugged my best friends tightly one last time before heading towards my black Honda civic.

I pulled up to the small, one floor house that needed a paint job. I took a deep breath and walked through the front door. It creaked as it opened, and slammed shut. My mother’s small dog ran up to me and wagged his tail, “Hey Sam.” I rubbed his head and he licked my hand. I saw my mom smoking on the outside porch. She put her cigarette out and came inside. She hugged me tight, I hated this smell. “Sorry I couldn’t make it to the award thing.” I rolled my eyes and I noticed how filthy the house was, “my college graduation you mean?” She nodded, “I didn’t go to your brother’s either, so it’s not like I picked favorites.” Sometimes I was convinced she forgot where he was…”Yeah. I believe you were ‘too busy’.’ She nodded, “I was! The car was broken, and whatever.” I nodded, “Sure.” She played with another cigarette between her fingers, “So when you leaving to go to that cabin?” I knew her intentions of wanting me over. She either wanted the place, or wanted to come. “Tomorrow morning.” She nodded, “And you know if you need help, I could always come up.” I shook my head no, “Grandma left this place to me for a reason.” She laughed, and lit her cigarette, “And what reason is that?” I took it out of her mouth and put it in the ash tray nearby, she lit another. “Because you and this whole dysfunctional family would contaminate the beauty of the place, you’d make it toxic.”She scoffed, “And you’re better than us? Honey you have my blood and your father’s blood.” I cringed as she mentioned him. “I am better.” She laughed, “Yeah because you’ve got a piece of paper saying you graduated college? Your brother got one of those and he’s dead. So how special are you?” My brother was a saint, my brother was my only savior besides grandma. “He died in Afghanistan you ignorant bitch. His college graduation ceremony was in memory of him. He fought so that you could be free…” She raised her hand to smack me, but I stopped her. “I’m leaving. I’m never coming back. Enjoy your damn life.” I let her go, said goodbye to Sam, and went out to my car. I could feel the swill of cigarette smoke surrounding me.

The apartment felt small. Sarah and Casey moved out the day before. All that was left was the furniture that the next group would have when they moved in. There was a light tap on the door before it opened. Our neighbor, Amy peeked in as I was folding the last of my clothes. “Awe, I’m going to miss you guys!” She gave me a one armed hug. Amy was that annoying friend you wish you never really met, but at the same time you knew you’d miss her weird, quirky ways. I hugged her back. “So, where is this cabin exactly?” I shrugged, “somewhere way up north. Canada I think.” She smiled, “Canada is beautiful! I’ve been there a few times!” I smiled at her, but I wasn’t in a chatty mood. She hugged me one last time, “What time are you leaving?” She moved some of my clothes into a bag nearby. “4 am! I want to beat all the traffic. Plus, I have this map my grandma left for me with star stickers of places she and my grandpa used to go. I want to be able to go to these places.” She hugged me again, “You’ll love it. You’ll have a blast. Call me sometime?” I nodded at her as she left and closed the door behind her. I looked at the map. Grandma marked off the towns and states, but not where they went. I grabbed the picture of the small cabin my grandma took a few years ago in the fall. It was absolutely stunning…she always joked that I got my talents from her, but I don’t think it was much of a joke. I am happy to be part of my grandmother’s genes. She’s the only relative, on either side, that I’m proud to be a part of.

Notes

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