What now?, First Line Friday, 1/31/2020

The wind cut into his skin and grey skies pressed down on the rotting town, but at least he was home. 

The windows on the houses stared back at him with hopeless abandonment, much like how he felt as he walked down the streets hoping against hope to find one home lit showing life. He had heard stories of how his quiet little home town had been sold off to developers after he left for college but he never dreamed they would totally destroy all the cherished details that once made this town unique. Now the developers had gone belly up and left everything to just rot. His family had left when it all sold so there had been no reason for him to ever come back.

Now 15 years later, the company he was working for was looking to buy the town and develop a resort there because of the huge lake on one end of town that had been know at one time to have bass tournaments resulting in record size fish. He wondered if there were even any fish left or did they die off with the town. Supposedly old man Sorenson was still there. A hermit of a man with little trust of anyone. It was no wonder with what all he had seen over the years. And here he comes, that young whipper snapper, as Sorenson  had called before leaving to college. He remember Sorenson’s son, Jake, who had died in a car wreck. A good kid, just a little reckless. But his dad couldn’t handle his death and locked himself in the house. Now it was his job to see if he could talk with him, they needed his land as well as it sat almost center of the old town square. 

Getting back in his truck, he headed back to the center of town to see if he could even get an answer at the door. Next town over was 30 miles and he really would like to get there before it got  really dark or before the clouds unleashed their gray torment.

-Anita Neal-

As you read the stories of sadness that life can sometime drop on us, remember there are many who hide from hurt. So find was to always be kind. Kindness can open doors of light that can assist many to help walk through those doors and find life again.