After finishing school, I felt utterly lost. I didn’t want to head home, and in that moment, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being out of place. Going back to school was not an option, and the forest was off-limits due to the patrols looking for me. So, I aimlessly wandered around town for what felt like hours until a memory sparked: a spot we used to go to drink.
Located on the other side of town, I eventually found my way to the old, dilapidated cabin. The key was still where we’d hidden it for over a year—inside a flowerpot. Once I got inside, I felt a sense of familiarity wash over me.
No one lived in the cabin, and it wasn’t tucked away in the forest; it sat right on the edge of town. Honestly, it would have surprised me if anyone caught sight of me there.
As the chill of the seaso
