This wasn't the way she ever imagined her life would have turned out. Things had changed so quickly, but she was a glass half full type of girl and she exited the greyhound with a smile as she spotted her favorite cousin. "Kie!" She squeeled with a bright smile. She did it to spare herself from the inevitable look of pity that most people greeted her with in the weeks following her mothers death. She had enough time to grieve. For months, years even. She'd cried her tears silently while her mother slept off the horrifying effects of the chemo. She was past all that now she told herself. Her mother was free from the horrors of her affliction and so was she.

fortunately Kie matched her positivr energy with a bright smile, as she threw her arms around her. "Ken! You're hair! I almost didn't recognize you! Is this everything?" She eyed the pink backpack that Kendra had thrown haphazardly to the ground just before embracing Kie.

She had sold nearly everything she owned, which wasn't much. Most of her and her mom's money had gone to end of life care and basic living expenses. Kendra wasn't able to work much in the final months of her mothers life. She had no regrets about spending that time making her mom feel comfortable and loved.

"Yep, this is all I need" Kendra replied with a feeling of true gratefulness and optimism. She was relieved to be out of her small stuffy town and be relatively carefree for once in her life.

"You must be exhausted... We got a room all made up for you."

"Perfect" she smiled. Her family had always said Kendra had the brightest smile. Invariably radiating warmth and happiness. Her mother used to call it her thousand watt smile. "Thanks for letting me crash for a bit."

"Honestly, please stay as long as you want. It will give my parents someone else to obsess over." Akie laughed while hoisting Kendra's bag into the back of the twinkle. She had left the boys to deal with the shop so she could get Kendra settled.

As the pulled up to Kie's house, her parents were there to greet them. "If it isn't my favorite niece" Kie's dad said pulling her into a side hug. "Im your ONLY niece", she chuckled.

Kendra got settled into her room with what little she had. She possessed only some clothes and a few cheap toiletries. She unpacked her favorite book, and some pictures of her family. If she could have brought her music collection with her she would have. As she had passed it off to the highest bidder, she rationalized that she coukd listen to most anything she wanted on her phone presently.

She hopped down the stairs. It was still light out, only half past six. Kie was snacking on some veggies and hummus while standing at the kitchen Island.

"So who can I talk to about a job around here?"

"Dude you just got here. You don't want to just like chill for a minute?" Kie poked at Kendra's side.

"Sorry I don't exactly have- what is it you guys call them? Kook? I don't have Kook money I can live off of." Kendra lightheartedly retorted.

Kie rolled her eyes at the sentiment. She knew she wouldn't be able to convince Kendra to take some time to relax. She was aware of her strong work ethic and need to pull her own weight and prove herself.

"Well I'm sure there are some shifts at The Wreck that you can take over. Come to think of it, I actually heard that my mom's friend is looking for a baby sitter for her one year old. You know how much they pay nanny's around here? Super easy and he's a cute kid too."

Kendra was great with kids, but she could really do any job she set her mind to. She hadn't come across a job that she couldn't find some joy in. She had been working since she was 14 and having just had her 19th birthday, she had had her fair share of odd jobs. Any employer you could have asked would have listed 'positive attitude' and 'hard worker' as the top attributes when describing Kendra." .

"Should I call her right now? Maybe I could start tomorrow." Kendra enquired.

Kie laughed while shaking her head "You have no chill. Ok, I'll text my mom and get her number."

By eight o'clock it was settled. She would start off with the morning shift at The Wreck and and be done in time to go meet Mrs. Lawson and her son Charlie at their house.

Sleep came to Kendra fast and without dreams. Just the way she had hoped and preferred. Total exhaustion was such a relief. No need to think or toss and turn. Just darkness and peace. She lived moment by moment and was determined to enjoy every second she could. She left no room to focus on the what ifs or the worries that were inevitably always there for a girl that was basically on her own at the age of 19. Sure, she had Kie and her Aunt and Uncle, but really she was just wandering or perhaps running. From the grief and her past. She couldn't have known that the very next day she would meet someone who would inevitably make her confront herself, ponder all those "what ifs" more deeply than ever, and collide with her at full force.