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After she shows me around the entire interior of this huge building, we’re making our way outside towards the garden in the back.
“I’ve never seen a house with as many secret passages as this one.” I say as I look back from where we came.
“Yea, we used to have so much fun playing hide and seek as kids.” She moves a low hanging branch away from the entrance to the garden. They have a huge weeping cherry tree that greets anyone who enters. “My favorite place to hide was in this garden, especially at night.”
A bright green path travels all around the garden, surrounded by numerous trees, bushes, flowers and plants. A wooden bench with the initials “K&M” running along the back sits in the center, giving a perfect view of the tiny pond to the far right of the garden.
“You must’ve hated being at home since you were here so much.” I’m not one to sugarcoat my thoughts or soften my bluntness.
She keeps walking and takes a seat on the bench before responding.
“It was the complete opposite actually. I wished I could be at home more than I was.” She stares off into the distance, seemingly lost to her thoughts.
“So why weren’t you?” I take a seat next to her.
“My parents’ job kept them away from home all the time. They travelled like 280 out of the 365 days every year.”
“Shit.” Is all I say.
“Yea.”
We sit in silence a little longer, the sound of the running pond water offering a weird sense of comfort.
“What about you? I feel like ever since you got dropped in everyone’s lap, I still haven’t learned anything about you.” She turns where she sits so she’s looking straight at my profile.
“What do you want to know?” I’m not ashamed of my past or where I come from. I like to consider myself an open book.
“Since we’re talking about parents, what’s your mom like?”
Ah, there it is. The one question that causes a small sting on the inside.
“Wish I knew. She died when I was 6.” I clear my throat, standing up. “Is this the last stop of the tour?”
She just stares at me, whether it’s because she’s observing me or shocked, I don’t know. Whatever it is, I’m grateful she is satisfied with the little information I gave her. Although I’m an open book, there’s certain things that still…sting.
She places both hands on her knees before pushing herself off the bench. “Actually, there’s one more place I want to show you.”
She leads me out the garden, towards the woods behind them.
“If you’re trying to murder me, at least let me go finish off the blunt I have in my room.”
She laughs, “if I wanted to murder you, it wouldn’t be in one of my favorite places. Your blood would taint it.”
“I’ll have you know, my blood is pretty great.”
“I’m sure,” she chuckles. I don’t know why, but hanging out with her feels like I’m hanging out with an old friend. It doesn’t feel forced or fake.
“Here we are,” she says, pulling me from my thoughts.
In front of us is a small, run down shed that looks like it’s been abandoned for years. Vines decorate the exterior and the glass is stained with dirt and other elements collected over the years.
I don’t say anything, just watch her pull a key out of her pocket and unlock the padlock that’s attached to the shed door.
Once it opens, she immediately flicks a light switch, illuminating the inside with a string of fairy lights along the border of the ceiling.
There’re a couple bean bags sitting on top of a huge area rug, with stacks of books in between as if they were a side table. There’s a stash of snacks in one corner on top of a wooden desk covered in papers with sketches covering every single one.
