This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

---------------------------------------------------------------

AROUND MIDDAY, Raine’s mom helped her daughter outside by putting some luggage in her daughter’s car trunk. Raine thanked and looked at her mom’s face as she helped carry things just for a vacation at her grandparent’s hometown. As soon as Raine finished putting some things in the back seat, she looked at her mom who was crossing her arms looking at her.

“Don’t forget to bring some winter coats, Raine. The breeze in your Grandad’s place is always freezingly cold, I hope you’ve already packed them.”

“You sure you’re not coming with me, Mom?” Raine asked, changing the topic, smiling looking at her mother who’s standing on the porch. Her mom rolled her eyes and sighed heavily. Raine knew what kind of sigh that was, it's a sigh of her mom starting to get sulky.

“You know I can hear that deep sigh of yours from where I stood, right?”

“Just be careful, Raine.” she said with her worried voice, “Just… Just be safe always, please remember what I told you.”

Raine’s smile slowly fades when she remembers what her mom told her yesterday, she already planned to have her vacation leave at her Granddad’s. But, while she was packing her things last night, her mom told her things that made her remember her dad. Raine started to walk towards her Mom and sighed, giving her a sad look.

“Would you like to reconsider it for now, Mom?” She said like a cute child asking for permission to play outside from her mother, “I’m sure grandpa would be sulky, if he offered me to have time with him outdoors and I refused because… you said so.”

“I just don't want you to get hurt.” she slowly cupped her daughter’s face worriedly, “You know that I’m scared of something that might happen to you. Ever since your father died, I am now scared of losing you.”

“That won’t happen.” she smiled at her mother who scoffed at her, “I’ll be careful, don’t worry, Mom. You know that won’t happen.”

“That’s what your father exactly said, Raine. Before he died.”

“Well, I’m not gonna die.”

“Well, I guess I can’t stop you then.” Raine let out a laugh as a victory, her mom smiled at her daughter. “If you want to do those extreme activities? Please be careful not to do it too extreme with your grandpa.”

“If you don’t love your life, think of me. Your mother, waiting for you to come home alive and in complete pieces.”

“You can trust me with that.”

“Your dad said those words too.” She said, “He came home hurt and injured and still managed to laugh with your grandpa in front of me and your grandma worried.”

“I love you, Mom. I’ll be back in pieces, don't worry.” Raine gave her mom a kiss on the cheek and hugged her tightly and left. Her Mom looked at the car as it drove away, sighing hoping that her late husband would guide their daughter.

***

Years since the last time Raine had her vacation with her parents back when she was just around twelve-year-old, they always visit her dad’s parents as their family vacation. Back then, they used to visit here almost every year, but when her dad passed away, they could only visit here if we had a chance to.

Raine lives in the city where she sees high buildings in her apartment, hearing the busy streets and horns instead of fresh winds, leaves rustling, and bird’s chirping in the morning. A lot changed since she didn’t come for a visit for fifteen years, she thought that she should visit somehow, since it’s been a very long time since she visited her grandparent’s hometown.

Raine finally arrives at the town, she’s been driving for minutes around thinking that she might be lost, since the road also changed...a lot. Not long enough, she noticed a red and blue light reflected from her rear view mirror and pulled over at the side of the road sighing heavily.

Raine leaned her head back and looked at the side mirror seeing the sheriff came out walking towards her car. Sheriff knocked on her car’s window and took a deep breath, rolled her window, showing her beautiful innocent smile.

“Hello, Sheriff? How’s it going?”

“Great, how about you?” He greeted her. Raine smiled bitterly, she wasn’t expecting that he would respond to her greetings. She quickly cleared up her throat, to ease the awkward atmosphere she’s feeling. Raine never thought that she would be pulled over for not less than an hour in this town.

“I hope you don’t mind me asking but, I noticed your car, passing over me multiple times so I followed you. You’ve been circling this town for almost half an hour already. Is everything okay, Miss?” Raine’s eyes widened a little, and it seemed that she was right. She is lost, Raine can hear herself screaming internally of embarrassment right now.

“You’re new here, aren’t you?”

“S...Sort of?” The sheriff took off his sunglasses and gave her a look of confusion, “I mean, I used to stay here for vacation with my parents, It’s been a long time since I came back here.”

“Is that so?” They stared at each other for a second and she quickly nodded her head as her answer, hoping that she could leave as soon as possible. “I see uhm… a lot has changed in the road for years, like street signs and directions. But, I could escort you to where you’re heading so that you wouldn’t be lost … for safety.”

“Oh, that’s uh…very kind of you, Sheriff. But, I think I can handle myself.”

“You sure?” he asked, “I quite have a strong feeling that you might get lost again, there've been a lot of reports here of wild animals suddenly jumping in front of the road, causing some accidents from the past few weeks.”

“Is that so?’ Raine’s voice softened looking at the road, she hates to admit that she is really lost, thinking that maybe it’s for the best that she should ask help from this kind officer who is offering to escort her. But, it would be nice too if he would leave her alone and get lost but, in the end, Raine asked to be escorted.

***

Raine arrived in front of a nice yet simple bungalow house, surrounded with green bermuda grass, a black pick up truck. Raine looked at the house, with a soft smile on her face. A lot of happy memories flashed into her head looking at this simple house.It’s been years since she came back here, she felt excitement as she saw the wood smoke from the chimneys.

“Home sweet home.’ Raine whispered, she noticed that it has gotten a little colder since she came to this town, especially the smoke that comes out from her mouth whenever she speaks.

“Thank you for escorting me here, a lot has really changed.”Raine thanked the sheriff with a smile helping her get some of her things out of her car. “Good thing this house hasn’t changed at all.”

“Nah, don’t mention it.” he said with his hand acting like he’s shoving it away, “My shift is over and I’m already heading home, so why not help you before I end my day. Turns out my gut is right, that you are indeed lost.”

Raine and the sheriff both laughed it off, as soon as the sheriff took out the last bag out of the car’s garage. He looked at the house and placed both of his hands on his waist squinting his eyes with a proud looking face and smile.

“Isn't this Scarlett's residence?” he asked, “You know that the people living in this house are one of the kindest people that I knew in town. Such nice people.”

“You knew my grandparents?”

“Grandparents?” he asked, looking at Raine a bit confused, ``Are you Miss Raine Scarlett that they’re expecting to arrive?”

“Yes, Yes she is!”

A man walked towards Raine while spreading his arms widely, wearing a bright wide smile. He hugged Raine so tight like she never hugged her for years, he held both of her shoulders and gave her a forehead kiss and a tap on her head.

“My one and only beautiful granddaughter.”