As the one light above his desk flickered he rubbed his temples and noticed the lack of noisy keyboard strokes. Of course his coworkers had left him to finish the rest of the work.
He was the new guy around here and had only been in town a couple months. His apartment was only a few blocks away, so he decided to give it five more minutes then walk home.
After he gathered his things and took the six flights down the stairs, cause of course the elevator was shut off for the night, he shoved the front door open and stepped out into the still night.
Immediately he started to second guess not calling a cab, but if he did now he would just be standing here for ten minutes. He strode off towards home with his head down and his hands in his pockets.
Would have been nice if one of his coworkers offered to go out for a drink or show him around town. He kept saying town cause he’s from a farm, but this is a city. A big city and he’s feeling nowhere close to home.
After stuck in thought for a block or two he realized he heard muffled chatter behind him and footsteps keeping stride with his. Only a couple more blocks to go so he quicker his pace and tried to focus on the moment.
Well this next moment came fast and before he realized what was going on it was completely dark in front of him and he was being picked up off his feet. He realized there was at least two pair of hands on him and he was being carried. Suddenly he was heaved into vehicle that was screaching off.
Ok, mental note he thought, don’t walk home alone here.
The sun fell ever so delicately into the horizon. It was a plethora of hues changing with its decent. I sat and stared with amazement and tried to spot the exact moments the shades changed or faded. The trees and critters seemed to welcome the dark as the woods grew quieter by the minute. My eyelids seemed to be in sync with the sun as I drifted off to sleep.
He didn’t know how to tell her his passions and interests had been changing; for years actually. He no longer strove for corporate success and a big fat paycheck. He missed his younger years when he would roam through nature in search of adventure. Like, studying different ecosystems in the backyard pond or exploring a new national park with the family and he knew he needed that feeling back.
He’d missed the last couple hunting seasons with his father an the traditional crowd because he was traveling for work or at an event with his wife. He and Lisa clicked on so many levels and he loved how she pushed him to push himself. Only now he was pushing himself to break free.
Lisa grew up in a traditionally successful family. Where success was measured by having the highest grades or the largest paycheck along with a flashy title. She had drive and he loved that about her, but he now knew that drive was taking her in a different direction. She strove to climb the ladder at her law firm and hardly had an off switch when it came to her career.
He couldn’t wait any longer. He just had to rip the band-aid off and tell her it was over. He hated who he’d become. He didn’t blame her, but knew it would be impossible to stay together as she was not going to be a fan of some of the changes.
After an epic night of indulgence; good drink, good food, good company, Arlo woke with a stagger. He gingerly made his way onto his feet.
He felt uneven as he slid his feet towards the bathroom. Not just uneven in his physical balance, but in the choices he’d been making and his balance within his soul. Arlo had been in a rut of neglect lately. His health, his responsibilities and his relationships had all been affected. Arlo was lost. Yes, in his life, but he was just now realizing that this hallway was not familiar. Where’d he wake up?
They had turned their modest family cottage into to a booming business that now bridges the stream where they’re nestled in about 100 yards back off the river.
The tavern was thriving with customers. Travelers passing through stopped from referral and locals flocked to their customary seats for the daily specials. The Magnusson’s had decided to capitalize on their lands prime positioning after Leif had lost his job at the trading post about a mile North. Hans and Sophie their two kids helped build additional docks along the yard to attract those paddling by with idle time. As the kids tinkered an bickered away, Leif and Louise built an addition on top of the house to give the family more room. And as they built they talked and their conversations ended up concocting this crazy idea to merge work and home. The addition became a foundation for the covered bridge built over the stream to the now blossoming business.
The kids were onboard with the plan before their parents could even finish unraveling it. It was actually Hans and Sophie’s idea that they’d help build and run the tavern too. They knew their house was a central location for their friends to connect and with the addition of beer an food it was a no brainer.
What they did not anticipate was the theatrics that came along with operating such a hangout. Some of their friends were becoming a burden with the added drama they provided cause of their negligence. Last week the family woke with a startle Friday morning as multiple police cruisers rolled up sirens blazing and pounding at the door.
A paddler passing the tavern came by the station with a report of a body floating in the lily pads by the docks. Everyone raced out back to the docks and they saw two brown boots sticking out of the water first. The police pulled Thomas Christensen’s body out of the water. Thomas was a local and right away Hans noticed that Thomas’ canoe wasn’t tied up on its usual post. More officers showed up and soon there were some in the house, on the docks and roaming the property for clues.
The two officers who remained in the living room with the Magnusson’s each picked a family member to pull aside an start the onslaught of questions. Leif and Sophie were picked to go first.
…just a start, having a hard time wrapping it up haha don’t know where to go from there…leave your ending in the comments!
The neighbor holding hands with his daughter at the end of the driveway both nervously anticipating her first ride on the school bus.
The couple at the beach lost in their books while tangled in a hammock.
The mother ducks at the park playing guardian, nurturer, provider to their herd.
The fact that if he’s observant enough wherever he goes he can witness love in action.
That it can fall completely to pieces and still find its way back to whole
That was why he still believed in love
The reaper walks among us on this day. He feels comfortable amongst the chaos an costumes of Halloween night. Some may think he comes with evil intentions, but in actuality he longs to connect. He too was once of the living and had meaning an purpose in his life. Now he’s ordered to collect an driven by an unquenchable thirst for wilting souls.
