Never would have guessed

I never thought my life would turn out like this, I honestly never thought I'd be where I am today. Packing up my house of 6 years. Leaving all the memories I made here. Over the past 6 years I've made this house into a home, a home that has been tainted by betrayal and lies and deceit. I could stay here, change the decor and make the place feel like me again but what would be the point? Every room holds memories, holds stories. If I want to start fresh I need to move on.  “Rachael, are you done with the living room?” Shannon shouts at me from upstairs, I look at the empty box in front of me, s**t. She comes into the living room holding a stack of books, i look at her and i know i’m about to get an earful about not packing but when i look at her i see pity in her eyes. She looks at me a lot like that now.  “Stop looking at me like that” i snap at her, her face changes and she smiles “Like what?” she asks innocently, i shake my head at her and throw the books she brought down into the box. She huffs and mumbles about organisation but I couldn't care less. All that will happen is I'll pack the box, take it to my car, drive to my new house and through the box in the spare room until I can bear to look at what's inside and unpack it.  “I’ll help you pack up the rest of the living room, my mum has already packed her car full of boxes so its whatever we can get in my car and yours” she kneels beside me, gives my shoulder a quick squeeze and then packs another box full of whatever she can find in the living room. I stare at the blank walls and empty floor where my couches used to be. I sold those a few weeks ago on f******k and bought myself a new corner couch for the new house.  “Are we ready to go ladies?” Shannon’s mum Susan comes into the room and collects a box, I grab a box and follow her to my car with Shannon on my heels. We load up the rest of the living room into boxes and fill our cars.  “We’ll follow you Rachael” Shannon announces as she gets into her car, Susan nods at us and gets into her car. I lock the door and get in my own car. I drive the 10 miles to my new house in silence, music at the moment makes me remember and i don't like remembering right now.  I pull into my new drive and stare at my new cottage, its a 2 bed cottage in the countryside, not too far away from people but i have no neighbours attached to me, a huge back garden where i can grow vegetables and here's enough room for Neo to run around in and the cats to explore without fear of cars. I’m pulled from my thoughts by a tap on the window, I look at Susan who gives me a smile while she carries a box to the front door. I quickly get out to open the front door. She knows where she's going as she’s been helping me all weekend move into the cottage with shannon. Shannon booked the weekend off especially to help me move. Her boyfriend helped yesterday but he had family plans today but he will be round later for a thank you dinner of pizza.  I go into my living room and sit on my new sofa that was delivered yesterday, I sigh as I stroke the velvet material. I look around at the new items I bought for the new house. New house. New start. New life.  “You're married?” “Technically yes but not really?” “What does that mean?” “Means that we just exist together, not much else” “Oh that must be so sad” A tear slips down my cheek, i quickly wipe it away but i’m not fast enough before Shannon sees it, she drops the box she's carrying and runs to my side, she wraps an arm around my shoulder and gives me squeeze “I’m ok” i whisper as i lay my head on her shoulder  “I know you are, I just want to give you a hug” she squeezes me again and her words make me smile. “Why don’t me and mum get the rest of the boxes from the old house while you chill out here, there's not much left” She stands up and shouts her mum, Susan comes in all smiles. I smile at her back “Shall we go get the rest of the boxes from the old house while Rach stays here?” Clearly Susan gets the underlying message and comes to hug me. “Sure love, you stay here and relax. We’ll sort everything” she gives me another hug, pats my arm and goes to her car. Shannon smiles and follows her, I'm left alone in my new house. It's so quiet, I'll get used to that. I hope.  I go upstairs to my new bedroom, i ordered a new bed so for now I'm sleeping on an air bed until it arrives next weekend. I sold a lot of my clothes recently as they were too big and I was just keeping them for nostalgia more than anything, so my clothes fit in one suitcase, one small suitcase at that. Don’t need new clothes when there's no one to impress. I spend most of my days either in work clothes or pyjamas.  I go back downstairs and decide to have a drink. I pour myself a big gin and lemonade and settle on the couch, no sooner have I taken my first sip than someone knocks on the door.  “Who the hell could that be?” i say out loud to no one. I open the door to find a plump older lady with short white hair holding a potted plant in her hands, behind her is a tall skinny man with a slight come over on his head. I smile warmly at them “Hello”  “Hello dear, we’re your neighbours and we thought we’d come by and say hello and welcome you to the street” she hands me the potted plant “welcome” she smiles at me. I take the plant from her “Thank you, would you like to come in?” I open the door further and step aside letting the couple come in, i walk into the kitchen and place the plant on the side, i turn to find the couple have followed me in. I look at them and stand there awkwardly. I should introduce myself and not just stand there like a fool, I feel my anxiety creeping in but I push it aside. It's just my neighbours, nothing to freak out about “I’m Rachael” i offer them a smile “I’m Jean and this is Ben” I shake their hands “Nice to meet you” “You too dear, is it just you here? We saw your friends leave a bit ago. Do they live here too?” “No they are just helping me move, it's just me. I have 2 cats and a dog that will be joining me next weekend once i’m more settled and unpacked” “Oh we have a dog too, Bart. He's a cockapoo” “Oh I have a Collie, he's called Neo. Very energetic, maybe they can play together” “That would be lovely, our gardens right next to yours. You can come through the gate whenever you want dear. We usually leave it open for Bart to wander through. The previous owners had a dog, Mable. Both of them used to run around the gardens all the time.” Jean laughs obviously remembering “Well I'm sure Neo will love to do that. He loves to play with anyone and any dog” I smile and Jean nods her head at me, just then I hear Shannon and Susan arguing and laughing about some boxes. “Looks like your friends are back, we’ll leave you to it but if you need anything you let us know and you have to come round for dinner when you're settled. You can introduce us to Neo”  “Sure i'll come round next week once he's here” i smile and lead them out of the house. They wave and smile at Shannon and Susan as they leave. “Neighbours” I say to Shannon as she gives me a weird look. “Oh” she drops a box on the floor “we got the last of your boxes and we did a bit of cleaning before we left. James says he's on his way” “Great I’ll order Pizza”