Sunset over the Clouds

Chapter 1: Grace

Little bit of info about the story setting:

1. The Island of Celea is a fictional Island I made up. But in this book, it is an island in the Pacific ocean, close to South America. 

2. Sunville is the smallest town on the Island.

3. The native language is English because the Island used to be a colony of the USA.

                                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Sorry Grace, but you're fired. You have until tomorrow to clean out your desk."

"What? You can't fire me!"

"I just did. Now get out of my office."

With a slam of the door, I left Jerry's office and marched to my desk. I would never understand why everyone liked that bastard so much. The best manager, my ass. Even his name was stupid. As I grabbed my stuff, someone behind me cleared her throat.

"So, he finally fired you, huh."

"Go away, Lila"

"I mean, this was bound to happen, don't you think. You're not the nicest person on the block, you know what I mean?" 

I looked at my co-worker, or ex co-worker now, and sighed. With her skimpy clothes, big boobs, red lips and high heels, one might mistake Lila for a prostitute. God only knows, how she got this job. 

"What do you mean, I'm not nice? I'm nice." I said even though I knew it was a lie. And so did Lila, judging by the look she gave me.

"Listen Grace, I"m really sorry you lost this job. I do wish you all the best." Lila said before walking away. 

I glanced around, noticing everyone's stares, so I quickly grabbed my stuff and walked to the elevator. While waiting for it to come up, I turned around, and saw Jerry standing  in the doorway of his office. As the elevator arrived, I looked over the floor once more and eventually at Jerry.

"You know what? f**k all of you miserable f***s. I'm outta here." 

"I think you're the one who's miserable, Grace. Have a nice life!" Jerry yelled back, and my mouth closed instantly. Stepping into the elevator, my vision became blurry but I wiped the wet away before the tears could fall.

 I'd gotten this job after so much hassle, and I still managed to f**k it all up. But, it wasn't my fault.

Or was it? 

People could be so stupid sometimes, and when I told them the truth, I was the bad one. People needed to grow the f**k up, and realize that not everything was all rainbows and sunshine. I learned that the hard way, so why shouldn't others. 

As I sat in the taxi on my way home, I thought about what I should do next. Finding another job, was going to be hard, and I honestly wasn't in the mood for that. But the rent wouldn't pay itself. I sighed and looked out the window. New York had never been my first choice to live and work. Too many people, who annoyed me a bit too much, and too much noise, that made me want to fill my ears with all the sponge I could find. But it had been my home for almost a year. 

When the taxi arrived at my apartment block, I paid him and took the stairs to the fifth floor. Yeah, no f*****g elevator. The moment I stepped into my small apartment, the tears started falling. I tried to keep them at bay, but I couldn't. I slid down to the floor, with my back against the door, and I just...cried. I hated everything and everyone, but what I hated the most, was my myself. 

That night as I laid in bed, I thought about everything that had happened to me since leaving home. 

Home. 

The word felt so foreign, and somewhere deep down, I craved it. To be home again. To lie in the grass field, between flowers, and watch the blue sky. To watch the sunset. A fresh set of tears rolled down my cheek, but I quickly wiped them away. No more crying. 

I turned over and grabbed the letters from my nightstand. The first time I read them, I didn't finish them, but I did know what the contents were. My hands shook as I opened the first letter, and by the third letter, I was done and put them aside. I then grabbed the official documents that said I inherited the farm from my grandmother. When I first received them in the mail, I didn't want anything to do with it, nor the farm and money she left for me. But maybe, just maybe it was time to finally go home. If I didn't find another job fast, I would lose my apartment, and I would rather not be homeless again. My grandmother was gone, and so was my mother, so there was no one waiting for me in Sunville. 

I moved and grabbed my laptop from my laptop bag, and fifteen minutes later, my ticket home was bought. I wondered if it was a good idea, but then I put that thought aside and laid back down. 

I was going home. After ten years, and I wasn't sure what to expect. But surely it would be better than noisy New York, and having to go through job hunting again. The money my grandmother left behind for me would be more than enough to survive at least a year. 

That would have to do, for now.

Four days later, I was on an airplane to the Island of Celea. The flight was terrible, and when we finally arrived at the airport, I couldn't be more happier. There was no one to pick me up, so I took a taxi to the city center. The capital hadn't changed much since I left, so I knew exactly where to grab the bus to Sunville. With my two suitcases, walking through the busy center was hell, but I would never ask someone for help. After finally finding the bus station, I bought my ticket, and an hour later, I was on the bus going to Sunville. After looking out the bus window for a while, I fell asleep until someone shook me awake.

"Excuse me, miss. We've arrived in Sunville."

"You could have woken me up without putting your hands on me." I hiss at the lady, and her eyes widened. They then turn angered, and she drew back.

"Yeah, sure. You have one minute to get of the bus." 

"Fine."

I grabbed my stuff as fast as I could, and without looking back, I left the bus station. The almost empty bus station. I had forgotten how quiet this place really was. The smell of grass and lavender was strong, but I still took a deep breath and inhaled the freshness of it all. There were only two taxis standing close to the bus station, and I stepped towards one to ask how much the ride to the farm would cost. 

"Sterling farm huh? You uh, related to the previous owner or something?" the bald headed and bearded man asked, and I sighed.

"Can you drive me to this address or not?" 

"Yeah uh sure, lady. Hop in."

The driver was a bit too chatty for my taste, so I ignored him and his stupid questions the whole ride. As we rode through the small colorful town, I spotted old Mister Lens arranging some of his items in the window of his shop. He looked so much older than I remembered, but then I remembered how long it's been since I've seen him. The town was known for it's colorful buildings, from blue to yellow, from purple to orange, almost all colors known to man were used to paint something in town.

I also spotted Mrs. Sand, chatting with someone outside of her flower shop, and I used my hand to hide my face. Ugh, I hated that woman. 

Sunville seemed a bit more busier that I was used to, and I felt relieved when we finally left town, and took the dirt road to the farm. The moment the house came into view, my heart started beating at an irregular pace. It looked almost the same, save for the color. Instead of the light blue color, it was now a  comfortable creamy color. The house looked well after, and she wondered who would do that. Grandma had died three years ago, and Jess some time before that. Thinking about my grandma and mother made me feel a sadness I didn't want to feel. Not after everything they did to me. 

The taxi stopped right in front of the house, and as soon as I paid him, I stepped out and grabbed my luggage. Judging by the looks the driver was giving me, his curiosity was getting the better of him, and before he could ask me another question I didn't want to answer, I started walking to the house. I didn't hear him start the car again, so I turn around, and give him my best 'f**k off' look. 

"Why are you still here?"

"I knew you looked familiar! You're the grand daughter right? Man, thought you were dead." he said as he scratched the back of his head.

"Leave. NOW!" I say, loud enough for him to realize I wanted him to f*****g leave. Within seconds he was speeding out of the drive way, and I heavily sigh. Great. Now the whole f*****g town would know I'm back. The flowers that grand mama used to have in front of the porch, were all gone, leaving behind only dirt. The lawn in front of the house was mowed, and by the smell of it, it had been done recently.

I brought my suitcases one by one up the stairs leading to the porch, and then searched for the key under the loose board, right under the window on the right. But the board wasn't loose anymore. So no key. Grandmama always kept a spare key there, and my dumb ass actually thought that after so long, it would still be there. How f*****g dumb was I?

With a groan I sat down in the old rocking chair, and I immediately thought about the days when I used to play here on the porch, and grand mama would sit in the same rocking chair, knitting a table cloth or something else she liked so much. My chest hurt, and I rubbed it, not too gently. I should have expected all of this. The memories, the hurt and pain I currently felt. I rubbed my eyes with my shirt, and got up. I needed to find a way into the house. But before I could do that, I heard the rumble of an old truck. I rolled my eyes and looked up at the ceiling. The truck stopped in front of the house and a tall man stepped out. With his stained shirt, dark blue jeans and muddy boots he looked like a typical farm boy. But he was no boy. Judging by his tanned brown skin, and muscled arms, he often worked outside. A lot. With my hands on my hips, I turned towards him.

"Who the hell are you, and what do you want?"

The man's eyebrows jerked up in surprise, and I almost smirked. Then his eyes turned hard, and he also put his hands on his hips.

"The more important question is, who are you? And what are you doing on someone else's property?"