Coming Home

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As the truck ascended the final hill to her destination, Sally Taylor's heart began to race. Looking below at the town she spent many holidays, weekends, and summers in, she closed here eyes and breathed the words she never had before: "I'm home."

As she descended the hilltop slowly, she looked at the scenery around and seen little that has changed over the last 20 years since she was here when she was a teenager. The firehouse had a digital sign now, a building was erected behind it for county equipment, and a newer playground was up where the old one used to be. The only property to change was the one she was going to, where her grandmother had lived and she spent time at, and where her uncle now lives.

As she pulled into the driveway, Sally looked into her rear view mirror and announced to her sleeping children that they were finally at their destination. It was early morning and they had slept most of the time it took to drive here from their home in Tennessee.

"Mama, can we get out now? I want Henry off of me." Kaydence, her daughter, said from behind her.

Henry shot his sister an offended look of surprise and started to say something back, but Sally was quick to respond, "Yes, you can both get out and wait for me. Uncle Daniel said he was up, but I want to be able to greet him first."

As Sally got out of the truck, she looked at the new house that sat before her. Long gone is the one-story structure that used to sit in front of the new two-story home, but the imprint she could still see in the grass. The rose bushes, hedges, and half of the trees she would run around and play in were gone with no sign of them around. The grape vine that grew Concorde grapes was still in the same spot. A newer truck and a boat trailer sat in the grass. If no one knew what used to be here, one could think this was a lot that was empty before.

Sally went to the first door she seen on the first floor and knocked. No answer. She climbed the stairs to the second story and knocked, hearing music blasting from inside. When that knock was not answered, she pulled out her phone and dialed her uncle's number. When he answered, she could hear herself talking from his speaker.

"I'm here. Which door do you want me to come in at?"

"Which one are you at? You can come on in."

Sally tried turning the doorknob, "No I can't. It's locked," she chuckles.

"Oh! One moment honey."

Sally heard the footsteps coming to the door and when it opened a blur of black fur came out first to jump up and greet her.

"Will you get down Oscar!" Uncle Daniel said to the dog. "Come inside and make yourselves at home."

Looking up, Sally's eyes began to tear up as the man before her had aged, but never changed. He still stood the same height since the last time she seen him, but his weight was gone, wrinkles had set in, and she could see the gray hairs set into what hair she could see. But his eyes were the same as ever, bright and smiling.

Once inside, Uncle Daniel turned around and embraced Sally for several moments, neither of them saying anything as they both felt the years of separation weighing upon them but melting at the same time. She was home, she was with family, and she was finally feeling whole.

"I have missed you so much. So where are you staying? How long are you up here? I could help you get a job if you want to move back. How's your credit? Because we can get you a house too." Uncle Daniel said as he pulled away and walked to the sink to grab a glass.

Sally looked at her uncle and smiled. "I have missed you so much as well Uncle Daniel. I'm here until Labor day, and I was supposed to stay with a friend from school, but she texted me on my way up and said something came up, so I will get a motel room. As for a job and such, I don't know if I want to move back because of Marie. I'm working on my credit, so I can't buy a house for a while. This would all be something I would have to think about because of my kids and I have to make sure they would be able to continue what they're doing back in Tennessee."

"I completely understand that honey. I just wanted to put that out there because I would love for you to move back and be closer."

"I know, and I understand that. You know that my relationship with your sister is non-existent and I have no desire to see her. If I move back, she might try to pop up and shove her way back into my life, and I really don't want that headache."

"Well, your mother doesn't come here, so you don't have to worry about that. I don't like people stopping by unannounced, and she hasn't been here in years. You're safe here and always welcomed."

Sally closed her eyes and sighed. "That's good. I'm glad to hear that."

Her uncle sat his glass down he was drinking from. "Good, then that's settled. How about you guys stay here while you're up here? I would love to have you!" He smiled widely.

"Okay, that sounds like a plan to me. It means I get to spend more time with you!"

"Of course! We have a lot of catching up to do. Have you eaten?"

"I'm not hungry, but the kids can eat a bowl of cereal," Sally said as she looked at her children.

"Great! Then we can go down to the boat docks and take my boat out on the lake!" Uncle Daniel smiled brightly as he said this.

"That sounds great!" Sally smiled back as she had fond memories of the lake.

Uncle Daniel's smiled dropped a little as he looked at her. "I just have to make sure I don't get in the water because I can't submerge my port." Uncle Daniel grabbed Sally's hand and pressed it against his chest.

When Sally looked at him questioning, he explained further. "My cancer is back. I'm currently doing chemo."