Happiness

Chapter 1~ Unhappy

"Unhappy"-  Not Happy. Adjective

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    Mal sighed deeply as she stared out of the window, her music drowning out anyone that may be talking on the almost empty train. 

       The train pulled to a stop and she slowly stood, grabbing her tote bag and suitcase, waddling through the lane to the exit. When she stepped off the train she saw her uncle beckoning her over as her lips pulled into an awkward smile. 

       "Mal." Her uncle, Tom, smiled and gently wrapped his arm around her shoulder, using his other hand to grab her suitcase. "We've missed you."

      "I've missed you guys too." Mallory looked up at him, her 5'5 frame nothing compared to his towering body.

     Mallory visited her uncle and his family when she was twelve, five years ago. It was one of her fondest memories as a child. Her uncle lived in Montana, far away from her home in Colorado. Recently her mom had fallen ill, leaving no one to take care of her and the house, well no one proper at least, her stepdad was a drunk; so naturally, her uncle volunteered to take care of her for the summer. 

      She climbed into his truck as he threw her bags in the back, they had a long journey from the train station to his house, he lived in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by miles and miles of beautiful trees. The ride to his house was quiet for the most part, he threw a few questions at her, mostly concerning her mother. 

      As soon as they arrived at his house she hopped out, glancing over to Tom before grabbing her suitcase. 

     "Hey Tom, the old room right?" She asked, referring to the last room she had when she was here. 

     "No, we had another baby and it got turned into a nursery last winter." He smiled apologetically. "There's a studio out back, Gage used it as a room before he went off to college."  'Gage' was his eldest son, he had recently turned 19. 

     Mallory nodded and followed him out around the house, they walked maybe 50 yards to a secluded structure, it had a large window facing away from anyone's view. He handed her a key and gestured for her to open the door. She opened it and stepped inside. The room had a tall ceiling, the floors were wood, the walls were a plain white. She laid her tote bag on the bed and gently sat down, watching as Tom set her suitcase down in the corner. 

     "This is great Tom." She flashed him a genuine smile. "Thank you." 

     "Don't thank me, it's the least I can do for my favorite niece!"

     "I'm your only niece!" She laughed. 

     "Well, yeah." He chuckled with her for a moment before nodding to the door. "I'm gonna let you get settled in if you need anything I'm gonna be inside. You should come in and say hello to everyone, they're all super excited to see you." He smiled and started on his way back to the house. 

     Mallory sighed as she looked around, noticing the desk in the corner. She stood, grabbing her bag as she did, setting it on the desk before she started dragging it in front of the large window, the chair following after. Glancing over at her suitcase she groaned and decided to leave it for tonight.