The house wasn't the same to her any more. This place, that used to be so dark and gloomy, was now full of light, of laughter and love. Had anyone told her a year ago that she would start to feel this way, surly she wouldn't have believed them.
A year ago, Aiko had moved to this tiny, dull town, to get away from the stressful life she had led in London. It certainly wasn't her idea - she loved the buzz of the city, her challenging job, and her exciting social life. But after the accident her doctor made her see a psychiatrist, and here she was. It hadn't taken the shrink many sessions with her to diagnose her as completely stressed out, too frazzled and depressed to find any real joy in life. Aiko gave him a rather colourful response to that. To think she paid him 200 pounds! She would have been happy to leave and resume her life as though nothing had disrupted it, but her boss wouldn't let her quit the shrink. She then made the mistake of telling her mother about his absurd idea for her to move to the country... Aiko had been kicking herself for months over that. Of course her mother would find it a splendid idea, and take it upon herself to find her daughter a nice place far out of town.
At least she had been allowed to work. Aiko would have gone out of her mind if she was to sit at home every day, and her doctor and psychiatrist both agreed that some work might be good for her. Not a full 100% of course, and nothing too straining. Aiko took a job as a half-time sales assistant in the local textile shop, and thus her life of serving dull, old ladies began.
The little town had at first seemed as taken from one of her nightmares. People were uncultivated and traditional, their fondest conversation topic was the weather, and there was no night life. The town had one pub. It closed at eight.
It wasn't until she met Mrs Dower, two and a half months after she moved there, that things started to change. Mrs Dower was a social butterfly of an old lady, 71 years old but still full of joy and energy. She came into the shop one day and made Aiko's acquaintance, and slowly but surly turned her life around. She introduced her to the popular chess club, where she met Patrick and Theyla. She took her to the pub's open mic night for the monthly Poetry Slam, and Aiko found a new friend in the shy but very talented Jaime. Mrs Dower took her out for coffee at the town's only café, and Aiko soon found herself engrossed in a conversation about baking with the café owner, Rita Stalski. To her great surprise, she started to view Tuesdays not as the week's first Try Not To Scream At The Bloody Ladies Who Cannot Decide Which Pattern They Need For Their Unnecessary Redecorating Because They Are Old And Might Die From A Heart Attack Day, but as Chess Club Day at the Inn. Wednesdays became Weekly Walks With Mrs Dower Day, Thursdays Pub Quiz Night, and once every months, Saturdays turned from Fuckity Poop, Tickets To London Are Expensive! to Open Mic Poetry Slam.
Her third PS (because that was what the locals, and she too, called the poetry nights) was the one when she met Camden, and in turn, his fiancé James. Camden was big, safe, and welcoming, and the absolute worst poetry writer the town had ever had. He proudly grasped the microphone as the fourth person that evening, and went on to read a poem about crows and pies, so bad that Aiko didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She later found out that he had lost a bet to James, who laughed hysterically when Camden's reading was done. Aiko made herself known to the couple simply by being the only one who to applaud, out of pity more than anything else. Camden has been calling her his "Biggest Fan" ever since, and has even promised her a personal poem for her birthday.
No, a year ago Aiko wouldn't have had any hopes of ever being happy in this tiny town... And yet, thinking back of all she had done since coming here, and looking at the scene in front of her now, that's what she was. In front of her, gathered in her great living room, were her friends. Camden and Jaime was teaching Patrick's kids how to play Backgammon. Mrs Dower currently seemed to be winning over James in a game of chess, Theyla and her new boyfriend Derek argued over the amount of sugar needed in the perfect cup of tea. Rita just came in from the kitchen, carrying a large tray of scones and home made jam. Aiko smiled. These were the people who had helped her fit in, and calm down, the people who made her love this town and her place in it. They helped her forget about the accident and the bitterness still connected to losing her left arm, they made her feel sufficient even without it. And she inspired them too; Board Game Night was her idea, and there was even talk of letting the pub stay open until nine next Friday!
Aiko felt a small hand curl into hers, and looked down to see Rebekah, Patrickäs youngest, smiling shyly up at her.
"Will you sit next to me and Daddy when we have scones? I want you to help me butter! Please."
Aiko exchanged a look with Patrick, and gave Rebekah's hand a nudge.
"Of course, sweetheart, let's get everyone seated!" she agreed with a smile.
~fin~
(03-10-2015)
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