The Cabin by the Lake

My car was filled up both with boxes and gas, and I was stalked up with water and Monster Energy. I didn’t drink coffee…ever…and I needed to stay awake somehow! I gave my old apartment one last look, and then started onto my journey. The first stop was in New Hampshire, about 3 hours away. I flipped on my head lights and headed north. With my country music coming through the speakers, the roads being pretty much empty and the cool air rushing past my face, I felt invisible. I was worried I would feel lonely, but with the map Grandma left me, I knew I wouldn’t be alone. The small New Hampshire town was right on the boarder of Maine. It actually looked a lot like the Storybrook from the Once Upon a Time TV show. The grass was still wet with dew, and the kids were just starting to emerge from their houses to go to school. It was still early May, and most schools were still in session until late June. I looked around, but had no idea where I was supposed to go in this town. I saw an older gentleman walking in my direction. His hair was grey and thinning, and he wore a brown jacket, black pants, and brown shoes. “Excuse me, sir?” He looked up at me with bright blue eyes. “Well hello there! How can I help you?” I smiled, “I’m actually looking for somewhere…I’m just not sure where…” He smiled and did a soft laugh. Then I remembered something…grandma would often talk about a small place near Maine she and Grandpa would get breakfast. I looked at the gentleman, “I know it’s supposed to be a diner or something…” He smiled, “Well we actually have a few. Are you meeting someone? Each diner has its own set of regulars.” I smiled again, not sure what to say. “Someone told me about it…she would come here a lot.” He smiled, “We get few visitors, what’s the name? I might know them!” as the run got higher, his wrinkles became more exposed but his smile never faded. “She was my grandma…Annie…” But he cut me off with a gasp. “Don’t tell me…you’re he granddaughter of Annie and Frank, aren’t you?” I was confused, but I couldn’t help but smiled. I nodded and he took my arm. “Follow me darlin’, didn’t you just graduate? I’m sorry to hear about Frank…it’s been what? 4 or 5 years? How’s Annie these days?” His pace was slow, but his words were quick. “She actually passed away a few weeks ago.” He stopped and looked up at me with his blue, sad, eyes. “I’m sorry kiddo, she was a great woman.” I smiled, “The best.” He started walking again and brought me into a small diner next to a flower shop.

“Macy, hey Macy. This is Annie and Franks granddaughter!” The whole diner looked back at me, and I gave a small smile. The waitress, Macy, took my hand and led me to a small table in the middle. “This was their table.” She smiled at me and sat across from me, “So you’re Emily.” I smiled, “I am.” She just kept smiling at me, and then she stood up quickly. “I have something for you!” She rushed to the register, grabbed and envelope and handed it to me. The front was my grandmother’s hand writing To Emily. “I’ll give you a few minutes.” I smiled and opened the envelope. It was a series of photographs. The first one at this booth. A picture of both my grandmother and grandfather many years ago. His hair was still jet black, and hers a light brown. The next few pictures were at different points on their trip to the cabin, the places I’m going to visit. I grabbed my Polaroid camera (yes they still make them! It’s just expensive…) I saw Macy walking back over, “Excuse me? Could you take my pictures?” She smiled and took the camera. I held the picture of my grandparents up and a little away from my body. I smiled and Macy snapped the picture. “Do you know what you’d like to order?” She smiled and I looked at the small menu for a second. “Could I have oatmeal with brown sugar, a side of scrambled eggs, and bacon? Actually…no bacon.” She smiled wide, “Coming right up.” I waited for the picture to process and I looked around the diner. It was small but not too small. I could see why my grandparents liked it. The picture came through and I smiled. It was perfect. Macy brought over my breakfast and then slide one piece of bacon next to my eggs. “This is the exact breakfast Annie always got. She always said no bacon, but we always gave her one piece.” I smiled, “Thank you, I guess I’m more like her than I thought!” Macy smiled at me and let me eat and admire the small diner. I took a few more pictures around the town, which turned out to be quite picturesque, before heading to my next location in Maine, about 2 hours away.

Maine had three different stops. The first was in the front of a pier that had crowded boats and colorful sheds. I had a fisherman take my picture in front of the boats with my grandparent’s photo in front of me. Next we a small lobster shack about an hour after that. I ordered a lobster for lunch, and got my picture with the lobster (still alive! My grandparents were nuts!), and with my grandparents photo. The third stop was a field full of the most vibrant flowers I had ever seen. Luckily, someone walking their dog passed us and took the picture. I sat in the field of flowers with my knees up, just like my grandmother, and held the picture up. I stayed a while longer picking some flowers and photographing the different ways the sun hit the colors, making them dancing in the wind. The last picture was at the cabin in Canada. It was winter though, and the two were ice skating on the small lake. I made a mental note to come back in the winter to get this last picture. The rest of my journey was about 4 hours long. I would make it to the cabin right as the sun was setting.

I was on a long road with no signs to direct me. My GPS said I was headed in the right direction, but I started to second guess myself. This road seemed way too long. “Your destination is up ahead.” The voice rang. I had no music on and no windows down. “Turn right.” I turned onto a path that was covered with leaves. There were no visible tire marks, my heart started to pound. Down the long path I went, it was a steady decline with no bumps or weird turns. But then the path ended to the most beautiful view I had ever seen. The sun was just setting on the lake with the white cabin looking over the water. I pulled my car up to the small shed in the back. I grabbed my camera and walked to the edge of the water. I snapped a few pictures of the sun hitting the water, the cabin, and the surrounding area. It was breath taking. I grabbed a bag of clothes and some groceries I bought and the key to the cabin. I unlocked the door, expecting it to be dusty and covered with white sheets. All I could see at first was darkness. The electricity wasn’t working at the moment, so I went to a few windows and opened them up. The sun flooded each room of the cabin. The cabin was spotless and nothing was covered. There was an envelope on the counter near a cookie char that was in the shape of an owl. My Emily, you made it to my little slice of heaven. I’m assuming you came right after graduation…the electricity will be on by the morning. Enjoy this space; it’s now yours! Take in your surroundings and make the best of it! You only have one chance at life; so don’t blow it! Take in the new, forget the old and move on with you fabulous life! Enjoy Canada and its beauty. Grandpa Frank and I always did. I hope you enjoyed your little adventure here, the diner and the lobster. I know you made the best of those situations. And go swimming! The lake is always refreshing. I love you, my Emily. Celebrate life as I have always taught you. I wiped a small tear and smiled. This was all mine. I was finally away from my horrid family. I would let go of the past, but I’ll also grow from it and learn as grandma has taught me before. I lit a few candles as the sun started to dip lower and the moon came into view.

Notes

I got a lot of views on my first chapter! So here's the second! :)
Thank you to all the readers! :)
Please comment :) I love feedback!
PS. 6 days to the Bruins first game! I love Hocktober!