In this, Alone

Who is she?

Wake up to the sunrise warming my face. I stretched my legs out of my jumper. Standing up, the sunlight shining down on my face. Looking down the road.

"Oi, Girl." the gas station worker yelled out.

I looked over at her.

"Oi, have you been out there all night?" She asked.

"You came in last night and brought a packet of chips and a drink."

"Mm," I replied.

"What's your name?"

"Mia"

"Come here, Mia."

Hesitant, I stood and looked at the bus stop.

"The next bus won't come back to town until Monday."

"How about we get you cleaned up and food in your belly?"

"I'm Sammy, Welcome to my house. I'm the owner of the gas station and diner."

Not knowing anyone, new, young, and alone. I decided to listen to Sammy and followed her into the diner.

" What bring you out here?"

"Aww, I just brought a small fix up cabin out the back of haven."

"Nice, You and your parents?"

"Umm, yeah." I said hesitate

Sammy gave me an unsure look and heads into the back. We entered the kitchen area.

"One second"

"You look like you need a feed."

Sammy wrote a sticky note and stuck it on the wall and hit the bell."

"Would you like a full on shower or wet wipes to give yourself a clean up?"

" I wouldn't have to you a bucket?"

"A bucket?"

"No, Never."

"Come on."

Exiting the kitchen. We entered a room with nothing but stairs.

"Who makes you wash yourself with a bucket."

Walking upstairs we entered a house.

"Welcome to my house," Sammy said

"Bathroom is over there, go clean up."

"Thank you," I said greatly.

"I'll go grab some of my son's clothes for you to wear. I will give your clothes a wash for you."

"It's okay! You don't need to do that."

"Don't be silly. You can't put dirty clothes back on."

"It's okay. I have some clothes in my backpack."

"Okay, Well! Here's a towel. Go clean up. We will talk and have breakfast at the diner when you're finished."

Entering the bathroom, I locked the door behind me. Turned on the shower and went to the toilet.

I started undressing, taking my shirt off. I removed the envelope from my bra and placed it under my shirt. I finished undressing and hopped into the shower. It's quite nice to take a proper shower and to wash with soap. It's so refreshing.

I finished with the shower, I got dressed before exiting the bathroom. I quickly opened the envelope and saw thousands of dollars. I was in shock. I wasn't expecting so many bands of money folded up. I took two fifty dollar notes and placed the envelope in the bottom of my backpack wrapped up in a shirt. Placing the hundred dollars in my pocket. I cleaned up the bathroom, wiped the water off the floor, grabbed my backpack, put it on my back, and grabbed my dirty clothes. I opened the door, walking into the living room.

"Excuse me, Sammy, I'm just wondering if you would have a garbage bag I could put my dirty clothes in."

"Place them over there in the washing machine. I will put a load on before we go eat breakfast."

"They will be dry by the afternoon."

"Are you sure? It's not a problem. I can go to a laundry mat and do it later."

"You have already done so much for me."

"It's okay! I've been in your place. Lost and not sure what to do, where to go."

"You ready to eat?"

"For sure."

Walking downstairs, back into the diner kitchen. A young chief is grilling. "It smells great," I commented.

"And done," Chief replied, adding the final touches to the plate.

"You, You, and Me," Chief said, handing a plate to us.

"Thank you," I replied.

"This is my son, Zion. Best chief in Haven." Sammy said

"Well, we have a customer at the gas station."

"I will have to take this for the road."

I took a big bite.

My mouth began to water, enjoying the taste. "It's been like forever since I had a feed. "

"Really, we have this daily," the chief replied, a bit confused. " If I may, when was the last you actually had a hot dinner? "

"Um, hmm," I questioned and thought.

"Well, that says a lot."

"You will be coming back here for dinner. It's on me."

"No, It's fine. You don't need to go through the trouble for me. I will manage."

"No, no. It's no problem. I'm willing to make you a wonderful hot dinner."

" Nine o'clock here."" If not, I'll come searching."

Zion giggled, "Nah, I won't search, but you should definitely come back. It will be worth it."

Zion miled.

"Okay, okay. Nine O'clock. I'll be here."

Taking another bite.

"Aww, where have you been my whole life?"

Zion had a giggle.

"Something funny," I asked. Taking another bite

"Yes, you look like you're about to marry that beadroll."

"Aye, I might. Don't judge. It's worth it." I replied sarcastically, taking another bite.

"Well, I think you are about to become a widow."

I giggled

"Does that make me a cannibal?" I asked.

Zion laughed, "Well, I guess so if he was your husband."

"It was delicious."

"So, you're new here!"

"Do you plan on staying long?"

"Not to sure yet. I'm going to go look around town today. I noticed a hotel down the road and wanted to see if they could help me out for a few days."

"The town is quite small, you can't get lost. I would offer to show you around. Rush hour is about to start and mum is going to need help."

"It's okay, I'll see you later."

Walking over to the gas station. I noticed Sammy had a few customers to help. I signaled from out the window I was going down the road, and I'd be back soon.

Sammy put his thumb up in response.

Walking down the road. The houses are primarily a mix of older heritage buildings, cottages, and more modern homes, and the shops are typically small; local businesses catering to basic needs, schools, hotels, a mini-mart, laundry mat, a doctor's office, a bakery, a butcher, bottle mart, and two little family restaurants.

Entering the hotel office.

"Good morning, welcome to Haven Hotel. I'm Haylee. I'll be your host. It's our pleasure to have you with us today. May I please have your name and reservation details?"

"Mia"

"I'm just wondering how much it costs to stay in a one-bedroom for a week?" I replied.

Tapping away at the computer.

"Will it be for six nights and seven days?

"That is correct."

"That will be a total of three hundred and fifty dollars."

"Would you like to make a booking?"

"I only have a hundred on me."

"That will get you two days and one night. "

"I'll have to get back to you?"

"Do you know where I could find the rental property?"

"Down at the fishing dock. Go down that street and turn left right away. You can't miss it."

"Thank you. I'll be back if I can't get any short-term rental."

Walking down the road and turning left. I could see the big fishing dock, a food truck, and a small family-owned outdoor equipment shop. Walking onto the dock. A few people are fishing, and a couple are in boats.

"Hello, Can I help you?

"I was looking for the owner?"

"You're looking at one of them."

"I'm John"

"How can I help you?"

"I'm Mia."

"I was just wondering if you have any small cabin away from everyone that you might be renting for cheap?"

"I do."

"I have one available in the bushes."

"About five miles in."

"It needs a bit of a fix."

"I'll let you live there free and you just fix it?

"Thank you. I would appreciate that."

"If you go into the shop, my wife, Mary. She can help you with the keys and paperwork."

"Thank you"

"You are Welcome"

Walking into the outdoor equipment shop, there is a little girl around five sitting at the counter taking customer orders. Walking around the shop. I looked at what they sold, making my way to the counter.

"Welcome. Can I help you?"

"I'm looking for your mum. Is she here?"

"She just left. I can help you?"

"Aww, I don't know. I have to sign paperwork and get a key from your mum."

"Hey, sorry. I just got notified that my wife had left. Let's forget about the paperwork. Here's the key. The address is on the tag."

Looking at the tag on the key, I read the address. Placing the key in the small zipper area of my backpack. I looked up, looking out the window to see a little boy fall off a floating dock and hit his head. Dropping my backpack, I ran down to the water. I yelled, "Help, the boy. The boy." John and his daughter ran behind me. A few fishermen came running over.

I jumped in the water. Pulling the little boy up, I handed him to John.

Yelling all around "Help him." "Is he okay?" Laying on the dock, the little boy coughed a couple of times. He got up, everyone continued to ask "Is he fine?" John put on his back and round his shoulders. A fisherman handed me a towel. The little boy got embarrassed. "I'm fine" he said, pushing a few people out of the way of exiting the dock.

"Ben, you could at least say thank you."

"Sorry, that's my son. He has been struggling to deal with the loss of his grandma. They were close."

"It's okay."

Walking back to the shop.

I started having flashbacks of when I was younger and drowned with my cousin.

I grabbed my backpack off the ground.

Walking out of the shop, I sat at the tables near the food truck.

John entered from the back door of the shop.

"Is she alright?" John asked his wife.

"Who? That young girl?"

"Yeah, She came in looking for a rental. I gave her the key to the cabin. I told her she could stay there for free if she fixed it. Then, she saved our son from drowning. She seems a bit quieter now."

"How old is she? Where are her parents?"

"I didn't ask."

"All I know is she looks around fifteen."

"She came to me looking for a place to rent away from people."

" I know it sounds strange."

"When I said I could help."

"The relief came off her face."

"We don't know what happened before she came to Haven!"

"She is here for a reason. Like us all."

"Okay, you got me there."

"Ben, Is he fine?"

"Take a look."

Looking out the window, Ben happily playing with his sister, Mackanzie.

John walked out the front and sat down at the table.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, sorry I'm fine."

"You're looking a bit pale. Are you sure you're fine?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, I'm just tired."

"How about I drive you to your new home?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, It'z no problem."

"Honey, I'll be back." John said, loudly.

"See you when you get back. Drive Safe."

Getting in the car. The kids ran over to the car.

"Dad, dad. Can we come?"

"Yeah, jump in."

"Honey, I'm taking the kids. "

"Okay. Love you."

Heading down the road, it changed into a dirt road continuing for 5km. Trees all around. We arrived at the cabin.

"Here we are."

"Thank you."

"Do you live here?" Ben asked.

"I do now."

"Why? It broken."

"A masterpiece made by an artist who retains the value inside it to make it even more beautiful than before."

"An artist!"

"Are you going to fix it up?"

"Yep, I waz think maybe a theme."

"Maybe a fairy garden or A nome garden."

"A fairy garden that be zo cool... " Mackenize zaid, excitly.

"It will. What do you reckon, Ben?"

"Yeah, It ound cool. Can you do it?"

"For zure.

"Talk later or tomorrow."