The One Who Got Away

Chapter 1

Many years later

I rubbed the sweat from my forehead after I set a box on the kitchen counter, this was defiantly not how I expected to spend my morning. I could already feel the tiredness taking over after traveling so far, thank fully I did not have to move any of the big furniture as I had it set up before I traveled from new jersey back to my small home town of Meadow Springs. You would think with a name like that it would be a sunny place to be, but in reality it's a small town of people who are in everyone's business with the very dysfunctional weather to go with it.

    Here I go getting distracted again with my thinking, I pushed my curly red hair that never stayed in its ponytail back. I walked to the front door ready to grab more boxes when my leg was attacked by a little munchkin named Amelia, I looked down at her with my eyebrow raised at the 4 1/2 year old that was holding onto me for dear life. I smiled down at her curly blonde head and piercing green eyes looked back up at me with a small smile.

           "Are you going to help me with boxes little ma'am? or hold me hostage?" I smiled at her.

    My little Melia grinned "Hotage." I laughed bending over and kissing her head "Close enough." I lifted her up and walked out the front door and grinned as I heard the beautiful singsong voice of my best friend Cassidy as she stepped out of her car "ALISHA OH MY HOW I'VE MISSED YOUR PRETTY FACE." I raised my eyebrow at her, it's truly impossible for her to have missed me as she was just down in jersey with me helping me pack up my belongings and we spoke every single day. That's the one thing that I could not leave when I ran away all those many years ago, my best friend was the only one who knew what I had been going through the past few years. I hugged her once she got close enough for me to do so.

        "My god you look great, I wouldn't even have guessed-" she was cut off by someone saying "Hello new neighbor." I looked over at the house across from mine and waved "Hello." I was praying the person didn't come over, all I need was for all of Meadow Springs to know I was back before I was completely ready for them to know. The young woman entered her house pulling out her phone as she glanced back our way.

    Cassidy "That was Kimberly. You remember her from Mrs. Dover's class? The whole town is about to be wondering who the new family is that moved in. I hope someone brings you Cake." She laughs loudly grabbing the remaining 2 boxes from the back of the truck and walked into the house as I followed thanking her for grabbing them. "Shut up, you shouldn't even be caring boxes. Let alone toddlers." She said glancing her way. I knew what she truly meant was give her Amelia because she wanted to hold her god daughter. I laughed as she set the boxes down and took her from me.

   "Alright time to unpack and take the truck to Melvin's (The local handy man store that also takes u-hauls back." I sighed and rubbed my growing belly saying a small prayer that I made the best decision for my children.

    "I just don't know if I'm ready for this. it's been so long since they've seen me and It's.." I trailed off an Cassidy stood and walked over to me embracing me in a giant hug. Tears formed in my eyes as I faced the fear of seeing my family that I abandoned so long ago.

"You have some time still, take a few days to get settle for you and Melia and just know that many of the people will be excited to see you after such a long time." She smiled warmly at me.

    I wiped my eyes and turned around taking deep breaths. "I've got this."