I slammed the door of my truck with more force than I fully intended to as the rhythmic sound of my caution lights blinked a soft orange, shining stark against the deep blue hue of the truck's exterior. I cursed under my breath as I grabbed the spare tire and tools from the back of the truck, hurling it all over the side and rolling it over to the front near the driver's side. I sighed, dropping the tool box with a loud thud as I followed after it, getting down on my hands and knees as I placed the jack under my truck -- good thing my granny taught me how to change a tire.
As I lifted the truck with the jack, several cars honked as the passed, a few men let out shouts and whistles as I stomped hard onto the metal jack, hoping that soon it will lift my truck enough so I couldn't be their entertainment. Once my vehicle was high enough, I grabbed the tools I needed from my tool box and began my work on my flat tire. Luckily for me, the metal wheel of the tire wasn't dented, meaning all I needed to do was buy a new tire to replace the old one. As I made work replacing the flat, I hummed as I listened to the sound of my blinker, wondering how this set back will keep me from the precious time I had to get to my new home.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
A picturesque beach town nestled near the border of North Carolina and filled with miles of beautiful coast line. With nearly 35,000 residents who called it their home, I knew that this town would be big enough that I wouldn't feel so much like an outcast but it was also a small enough town that it had a small town feel where everyone is genuine and gave everyone well-deserved respect.
After I was done replacing the flat, I flung the broken tire into my truck bed, along with my tools and opened my driver's side door just as someone slowed down behind me, their caution lights blinking back at me as they parked their vehicle behind mine. Shielding my eyes from the hot sun, I shut my door, just as the driver got out of the vehicle. I couldn't see the figure until they were a few feet away from me, and as they got closer I felt my heart skip a beat as I recognised them.
But that couldn't be him.
The man's eyes were blue, matching my own but his black graying hair was pushed back under a baseball cap where a pair of sunglasses rested on the top. As he got closer I realised I was mistaken, of course I was mistaken. This man wasn't my father, he's been dead for two years now, as much as I wished it wasn't true.
I remember the day they had diagnosed him with cancer, Mom had passed away from a car accident not one year before. I remember the distraught look in his eyes after he found out the news. I was twenty when mom passed away, twenty-two when dad passed. They still lay buried in the cemetery just past Blairstown in Kansas, nestled under an old oak tree like Mom had always wanted. I would always lay flowers on their anniversary. But lately, I hadn't felt Kansas was my home, it just brought back too many sad memories. I wanted to start a new, make new memories in a new town with my new dream job.
"Ma'am, are you alright?"
I blinked, suddenly realising where I was as the memories of my parents flew from my mind as I looked back at the man standing in front of me. Wiping my face of the strand tear that managed to escape from my eyes, I managed to smile wide, hoping he wouldn't press as to why I was slightly crying on the side of the road.
"I, um, yes I'm fine. Thank you. I just, uh, I got a flat tire and just got done fixing it." I rambled, motioning towards the tire before turning back to him. "Thank you for checking to see if I'm doing alright, though, I appreciate that. But I think I'll be on my way."
The man only nodded, "Well, alright, have a safe trip!" He called before walking back to get into his truck.
Without a second thought, I turned on my heal and quietly walked towards my car just before I heard another car door open and slam shut.
"Wait, miss!" I heard a woman call as I turned around, "I believe my husband may have forgotten something."
"Oh, no it's really not necessarily please." I began before I felt the woman's hand on my shoulder. A motherly touch I had all but forgotten what it felt like. Before I could stop the tears from coming, I heard the sob tear through me as I turned to look at the woman.
"Oh, honey!"
Before I could pull away she hugged me close as I cried. I had no idea what I was doing. I missed my mom, I missed my dad. I missed our monthly camping trips, and the way my mother sang while she cooked. I missed the way my dad's eyes shone when he laughed. I missed them so damn much it hurts.
"I'm sorry." I wailed, crying into the woman's shoulder as she held me close, shushing me softly as she tried to ease my pain.
"It's alright dear, it's alright." She cooed, rubbing my back softly.
"I just miss them so much," I cried, hugging the stranger who clung to me, trying to comfort me as I balled my eyes out on the side of the road. Soon though, my sob's quieted and I pulled away, wipeing my face a little as the woman handed me some tissues from her purse.
"Here dear, you need these more than me."
I sniffed, taking them from her outstretched hand as I blew my nose and wiped the tears from my eyes. "Thank you."
"You're welcome dear," She paused, "Would you like to talk about it?"
I bit my lip, looking away as I watched the cars pass us quickly along the highway.
"My name's Anna." I said, turning back to the woman with kind brown eyes and hair as red as they come, "My parents are dead and I - I still miss them. That's why I'm crying and I-" I paused, holding back a sob. "I'm moving half way across the country so I can start a new life. There was too many sad memories where I'm from and I just want to start over in Myrtle Beach." I confessed.
The woman nodded as she listened to me, well, it is nice to meet you Anna. My name is Claire, I'm going to give you my phone number, I want you to call me if you ever need anything. My husband and I live in Garden City. It's just twenty minutes from where you are, I will be there if you ever need anything." She smiled, her kind eyes running over my face as she scribbled her number on a piece of paper and handed it to me.
Taking the piece of paper from her outstretched hand, I thanked her again and gave her a quick hug, before walking back to my truck. I wouldn't forget Claire's kindness and knew that if I ever needed anything I would call her. I sat in my driver's seat for a few minutes as I watched the couple drive away. I was nearly an hour away from Myrtle Beach; an hour away from my new life. I knew I couldn't run away from my past, and I new I needed to find some closure with my parents' passing but I knew even if I did somehow get over their deaths I would still ache for them.
"I will live my life happy and healthy for you Mom and Dad." I promised, "I will be successful in my career, fall in love, and marry the love of my life like you both managed to do."
I smiled slightly, before turning my blinker on and following traffic towards the coast. A new found goal in the forefront of my mind as I drove, listening to the radio as I enjoyed the warm weather of South Carolina, knowing that once I reached the coast, I would never have to scrape ice off my windshield again.
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