Silver Desires

Vanishing trails

As the first rays of morning sunlight gently filtered through the curtains, Jillian roused from her peaceful slumber, stretching her limbs and slowly opening her eyes. Yet, a peculiar emptiness hung in the air, casting a shadow over the cottage.

Confusion and a tinge of concern coursed through Jillian as she stepped out of her room and glanced down the hallway towards the room the stranger had claimed for himself last night.

To her surprise, the room appeared untouched, devoid of any signs of his presence. The scattered t-shirts and hair care products she had noticed the previous night had mysteriously vanished.

Unease settling in, Jillian called out, her voice echoing through the quiet house. However, the only response she received was the eerie silence that enveloped her.

A sense of sadness washed over her. She had hoped that he would stay a little longer.

Jillian looked around the room. He had left her a note, she thought. But there was nothing on the table. She walked over to the windowsill and peered out into the dark forest. The sun shone down, illuminating the clearing where she had parked her rental.

Her mind wandered as she stood there, watching the woods.

“Maybe he’ll ask me out on a date,” she mused with a wry smile. “I haven’t been on one in years.”

She laughed. It was silly to think that he would take her out on a date, but it was nice to imagine.

Jillian shook her head, her thoughts drifting back to the stranger. She couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to kiss him.

To feel his lips against hers, to hold him close…

Jillian blushed.

“What am I thinking?” She muttered. “That’s crazy.”

She looked around, suddenly feeling nervous.

“I better get going,” she said, turning away from the window.

Curiosity gnawed at her, urging her to uncover the truth behind this sudden disappearance. Determined to find some answers, Jillian hastily dressed and made her way into town, seeking a comforting breakfast and directions towards the glade beau told her about.

Jillian walked through the streets, searching for a place to eat. The sun was already high in the sky, warming her face. It had been a while since she’d felt the warmth of the sun on her skin.

The streets were quiet and peaceful, with no sign of life. Most of the shops were closed, their shutters drawn. Jillian made her way down a narrow alleyway, trying to find somewhere to grab a bite to eat.

As she passed a shop, the door opened. A man emerged, followed by a woman carrying a large box with an infectious smile, brightening the street and moving with elegance and grace.

“Are you lost? You must have been the one that came into town yesterday” He said.

Jillian looked up at him, surprised. She wasn’t lost. In fact, she knew exactly where she was going.

“No, I’m looking for a place to eat,” she replied.

The man smiled. “I know just the place.”

He stepped closer to her, extending his hand. “My name is David, and this is my wife, Gwen.”

Jillian took his hand and shook it.

“I’m Jillian,” she said.

David turned to his wife. “This is our new neighbor.”

Gwen smiled. “Pleased to meet you.”

She held out her hand. Jillian took it in hers and shook.

“I’m Jillian,” she said.

“And I’m Gwen,” she added.

They both smiled at each other, their eyes meeting for a moment.

Jillian felt a slight tingle run through her body. Her heart skipped a beat. She wanted to say something, but couldn’t quite find the words.

“Well, come on then,” David said, gesturing towards the shop. “I’ll buy you some breakfast.”

Jillian smiled. “That sounds good,” she replied.

The couple led her into the shop and showed her to a table “I’ll be right back,” David said as he left.

Gwen placed the box on the table “Do you want some coffee?” She asked as she straightened up looking over Jillian’s shoulder

Jillian nodded.

Gwen disappeared to talk with the barista , returning a few moments later with two steaming mugs of coffee.

“How do you like your coffee?" She asked. Jillian took a sip. It was strong and delicious. "Oh, this is great," she said. Gwen smiled. "I'll go get some food." She stood up and left the table.

Jillian looked around the shop. It was filled with shelves of books, and various objects from nature. There were plants and flowers everywhere. The scent of fresh earth and sweet wildflowers filled the air. "What's that smell?" She asked to no one closing her eyes, inhaling deeply.

Gwen laughed behind her. "It's called a vase," she said, pointing at a large ceramic pot. "I love flowers, they bring so much life to the room."

She sat down opposite Jillian, taking a sip of her coffee. "So, tell me about yourself," she said. Jillian hesitated. "I'm a photographer," she said finally. "I came here to take pictures of the wildlife."

"Wildlife?" Gwen raised an eyebrow. "You mean like bears and deer?" Jillian nodded. "And other animals too," she added. Gwen smiled. "That sounds like fun."

Jillian took another sip of her coffee. She looked around the shop. It was very different from any other place she had been in. It felt warm and inviting, but also mysterious. "My friends call me Jill," she said. "Jill?" Gwen repeated. "It’s definitely less of a mouthful?" Jillian nodded. "I can see why," she said. "It's beautiful." Jillian smiled. "Thank you."

She sipped her coffee again, savoring the taste. "I need to meet up with my realtor, Beau. There seems to have been a mix up with the cottage I rented out, his office is just across the street" Gwen nodded. "Well, if you're going to be around for a while, let me know. You’re always welcome here.”

Gwen stood up. “I’ll come back later.”

“Wait,” Jillian called after her. “Can you show me where the nearest hardware store is after?”

Gwen smiled. “Of course.”

The couple walked out of the shop after Gwen called David to let him know she was going out, heading towards the main road.

In place of the real estate office stood a vibrant barber shop, its striped pole rotating lazily in the breeze.

Baffled, yet undeterred, Jillian pushed open the door and stepped inside the bustling salon. A small bell tinkled as she entered.

“Welcome to Miguel’s Barbershop,” a man greeted her. “How can I help you?”

Jillian looked around the room. There were only two customers in the shop, both men, sitting at the far end of the room.

“I’m looking for Beau,” she said. “He works here.”

The man looked at her for a moment, then shook his head. “No one by that name works here.”

Jillian frowned.

“But I spoke to him yesterday here, and there’s a stranger in my house” she insisted.

The man sighed. “There’s no one called Beau working here, nor has there been for years.” A wave of his hand dismissively.

“Then who did you say he worked for?” She asked.

The man shrugged. “I didn’t say anything,” he replied. “Why don’t you come back tomorrow?”

Jillian turned away, not wanting to argue with him.

“Do you know where I can find him?” She asked.

The man shook his head.

Jillian sighed.

The man behind the counter sighed as Jillian left. He didn’t want to lie to the woman, but he couldn’t tell her the truth either. He picked up the phone and pressed a button. “Chelsea, please take over,” he said into the receiver.

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“I need to check on something,” he said. “I’ll be right back.”

He walked through a door and down a hallway until he came to a small room. He sat at a desk and opened a drawer, removing a set of keys.

“Are you ready?” A voice spoke behind him.

He turned to see his friend standing in the doorway. “I still don’t understand why you can’t tell her,” he said.

The other man shrugged. “You know that it has to be this way.”

The first man nodded. He stood up and handed the other man the keys, then left the room.