Broken Strings

One

*** "People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." Abraham Lincoln ***

Looking at my surroundings I remember where I am. I sigh and run my hand through my brunette nest of locks, then brush it out of my face with my hands. I guess this isn't a dream after all... I sigh and shake my head to stop myself from thinking too much. I swing my legs over the side of the bed and look at the boxes in the corner of the room, reading the labels I smile as I see all the boxes containing my books made it hopefully unharmed. I stand and head to the bathroom where I dress down and step in the shower. As the warm water hits my face my mind starts to doze off to the events of yesterday.

I remember arriving at my aunts house, a blue ranch home and a barn outside it. When I stepped out the car I was hit with fresh air and the scent was different from the cities, sort of cleaner. I grabbed my bags from the trunk when I heard a woman's voice greet my mom. The voice turned to greet me, and before I could see her face I was in her arms. "Carolina! It's been so long!" She said into my neck.

"Aunt Becky. Yeah, it's been a while." I said trying to sound cheerful but it was hard to speak with the feeling of an anchor on my chest. When she pulled away and gripped my shoulders she smiled widely, then brushed a hair out of my face. I tried to smile back but I'm sure I looked like I had to use the restroom. Aunt Becky furrowed her brows then helped with our bags, she began to lead us to the blue house and started talking again, "The barn is where the horses are. People come to buy or rent horses and I am also the vet 'round here."

"Carolina if you would like then maybe you could help with work! An after school job! How about that?" I nodded, "Yeah. Maybe." I wasn't trying to be rude or anything but my mind was someplace else. I was worried about my mom and adapting to our new home. She led us inside and showed us the family, which is also the living, room.

The kitchen was very nice and I wanted so badly to cook a meal and prepare it on the island counter. The house had four bedrooms upstairs and one guestroom downstairs. The first bedroom was a master room, two of the other bedrooms were for children that combined in the middle by one bathroom, the third room was my bedroom and had it's own small bathroom. I was glad to have my own bathroom and when I looked in my room, I was glad there was a lot of room for my books, and there was a guitar stand where I could put my acoustic.

Mom was taking the guestroom, which also had it's own bathroom. I couldn't believe the size of the house! She also showed us the reading room and the office where Uncle Josh does his work. As she prepared us a small meal she began talking about why she built such a big home, "When I met Josh I wanted to have a family with him. We had both agreed to use our life savin's on buildin' our own home, a home we could feel safe in and be proud of."

"Josie, your mom, helped us out and sent us money while she was in medical school. When medical school didn't work out she asked if she could come and visit a while to see the finished work. Obviously we said of course! Then she came with her boyfrie--- And then you were born here! They got married here and stayed five years, just so mom could let you grow up a little while around family."

I stopped listening cause she was rambling on about memories. I looked at Mom, who was helping Aunt Becky, she looked distant again. I frowned and looked at Aunt Becky's family portrait. It made me sad because Mom wanted a little boy, and the thought of a little brother made me very happy. I guess Becky's kids will have to do.

"Carolina could you set the plates?" I heard Mom ask me. "Yes ma'am." I responded. She gave me a sad smile again and I tried to lighten her mood by sticking my tongue out playfully. She chuckled and it made me smile. I heard Aunt Becky still talking, "Eventually her and Chris decided it was time to get Josie a job because she was doing so well in law school. Chris continued to be a doctor---" Aunt Becky stopped and glanced at Mom.

"Oh! By the way the kids are at school and should be home at 3:15. Josh should be home late today, so sorry about that. But I do know he'll be very glad to see you both." We all sat down to eat and Mom and I decided we should probably get some rest. I slept a little while then awoke to hyper kids. There was not a lot after that besides my cousin, Misa, wanted to play dolls with me but my other cousin, Little Josh, wanted to play superheroes.

I was dismissed once they started fighting, and went to my room. I read until I fell asleep, and now I'm exhausted and it's three in the morning. I went back to my room and rummaged through a clothes box. I found a blue tee and some jean shorts, along with a clean pair of undergarments. I quickly slipped on my clothing and put my hair in a ponytail, grabbed my guitar from it's case and slipped into the hall.

I swung my guitar on my back and went down the stairs, grabbed carrots from the fridge, then slipped out the front door. I took a deep breath in and then started walking, the gravel crunching under my flats. I loved it here already, and I remember loving it here when I was little. I looked at the barn where I was headed and smiled, giddy to see the horses.

Some emotions you just can't ignore, and feeling happy is something you can't ignore. It's not that I'm happy, I'm not happy really, but I can't wait to see my horse. Becky said she's still around, and I loved Hermione when I was little. I wanted to learn to ride her, and maybe now I could learn now.

I smiled as I entered the the barn and saw the couple horses. Some were already awake and started whining once they saw me. I smiled and rubbed the space between their eyes, still walking until I found Hermione. I smiled as I saw her black coat bring back old memories. She was just only a baby when I last saw her, and now she was all grown.

"Hey girl." I said to her as she saw me. I started petting her and she nudged my face with hers. I chuckled and pulled the carrot from my back pocket, then put it up to her mouth which she gladly accepted. I smiled and grabbed a brush off a hook. Hermione whined when I stopped petting her and I chuckled again, "Did you miss me girl? Well I sure missed you."

I brought her out of her stall and starting brushing her. I gave her another carrot and continued brushing her beautiful coat. "You've grown so big Hermione. I'm sorry I was gone for so long. I love the city though, it was big and nice to see so many different people. I like to see the way humanity works. The way different minds think and process. I was so scared of coming back... didn't think a city girl like me would fit in much... I'm still scared but I think I'll be fine."

"Maybe things will get better. I hate dad though. Remember him Hermione? He was there while you were born. Mama was carrying me cause I was only four. How old are you again? Twelve I assume. I'm seventeen, can you believe it girl! Haha, well I'm graduating this year anyway."

I took a deep breath and put my forehead to Hermione's, "I'll learn to ride you girl. Okay? We'll have lots of fun now that I'm here."

"So you're here already, huh?"

I jumped at the new voice coming from behind me. I turned around and stared at the figure at the other side of the barn. The figure was tall and muscle shaped, not too muscular but also not scrawny. "You just gonna stare at me or are ya gonna introduce yourself." He had a thick country draw which I've only heard from my Aunt and Uncle and Cousins so far. I glared at him, I could tell I wouldn't like this boy already. "The names Carolina. You?" I said as I eyed him. He started walking towards me and he put his hand out, a grin on his face, "The names Tobias Walker. Nice to meet ya' Carolina."

I nod and shake his hand, my small was engulfed in his larger palm, "Same to you Tobias."