Driving along the winding roads of Grafton, New England I despised the ever so long drive home. The tall pine trees shadowed the road making it seem extremely musky for a summer's day, as I started passing small traditional crooked houses placed in the middle of lonely golden fields and tall maple trees, I knew I was almost home. I was dreading facing my dad who knows what bullshit he'll release when I walk through the door, ever since I left home he has always appeared to have this grudge against me as if I just everyone the same as my mom did. It's been 2 years since she disappeared without a trace, I've never wanted to stay in this town, working a dead end job, becoming a typical mother works all day when my husband expects me to put dinner on the table. No, that wasn't the life I wanted, it's like I never even grew up in this town.

I followed the road before turning into a side road leading up to a street of house, all of different sizes, styles and colors. I drove right to the end to a traditional Victorian house but my dad had made it slightly modern with a light baby blue paint job, the old oak tree on the right side of the house was still standing over it, I remember trying to sneak out of my window that faced the tree; making easy access to climb down but one night when it had been raining heavily for three days my foot slipped and I ended up with a huge scar running down my leg where I'd caught myself on a particularly sharp branch. I liked memories like that, made me realize I used to have an adventurous side.

I pulled up just outside of the house, I untied the hair band from my messy bun letting my strange silvery ash blonde hair fall down into a wavy mess, I took a deep breathe and sighed; my skin had always been a strange paleness even though I spend most of my time in the sun. I dragged myself out the car, slamming the door shut behind me and walked slowly to the large stained glass door of the house. Thankfully they hadn't changed the locks and my key still worked, the door was just as heavy as I remembered it I felt like I entered a new dimension, everything was modern the dark mahogany floor boards were so shiny I could see my reflection perfectly. Just in the hallway it had it's own theme modern but traditional, classic old Victorian furniture but painted and polished to perfection; strangely my dad was able to help keep everything so prim and proper since mom had gone.

"Hello?!" my voice echoed through the house. "Dad?!... Jake?!"

I found myself in the study, a man hunched over a large mahogany desk covered with paper and books pulled from the large bookcases filled with old classic and modern reading, I stood in the doorway but I could smell the burnt wood on the fire reminding me of heart warming Christmas' in this room.

"Dad?" I said, the man jumped in the chair facing me; his hair a wild mess of brown and tints of silver with his glasses halfway down his nose, his eyes were baggy obviously he hadn't slept in

days.

"Avery! You startled me... I thought you weren't here till Friday?" My dad said breathless.

"It is Friday dad..." I replied bluntly.

"Oh... right... erm... how was the erm.. drive?"

"The usual... long... erm... where's Jamie?"

"Oh... erm... sleeping... I think... erm... do you want some... erm... coffe? Or... erm... water?"

"It's twelve in the afternoon dad... I'll make you some coffee..." I awkwardly left the doorway and glided to the kitchen, my dad seemed so lost like time didn't matter anymore. I went into the large spacious kitchen to find Jamie my younger brother, we never looked like siblings, Jamie was six foot tall with dark brown messy hair and mud colored brown eyes and a slight bronze tone to his skin. Many people spread rumors stating my mother had an affair and Jamie was their love child... another reason I hated this town... too many people like to know your business or even make up your own business if you have nothing to tell.