Ellie,
Thank you so much for your letter! Totally old school but I love it so I decided to send one back. New York is amazing, we are absolutely in love with the East Village and Alex has been networking like crazy—your connection at the gallery really helped him find his way, I can’t thank you enough for that. Enclosed you’ll find all the cash I owe you for the last six months of rent. I know you said not to worry about it, but a promise is a promise. I’m glad to hear you are leaving Repo as well, someone as awesome as you doesn’t belong in that shitty little town either. I’m hoping my mom will come to visit soon, or even better: take the same advice I’m sending you. There is nothing left for her there now but I feel like she stays to punish herself...I’m sure you heard all about the horrific shit that went down after I left. I can’t even bring myself to write about it without feeling sick to my stomach. Anyway, whenever you want your apartment back, just say and we will find another spot. I would love if you decided to move here...hint, hint! Let me know all is good with you and keep me posted on your travels.
The little sister you never had but always needed
—Sam
***
Dear Sam,
I’m thrilled to hear you and Alex are doing so well! Enjoy the apartment, I’m not sure where I’m headed yet, but if I make it up to New York you will be the first to know! The money was unnecessary but I thank you regardless. I’m sorry to hear about your mom, hopefully she’s able to find the courage to put w
hat has happened behind her and move on. Repo has been relatively quiet since, well, you know. To be honest, it’s just not the same and I’m anxious to get on my way. Don’t forget to contact me if you need anything at all. I promise, I will be there.
Your surrogate sis,
—Ellie
***
Jane smiled as she tipped the envelope into the mailbox at the corner of her street. It was a beautiful sunny morning. She was the only one out and about. A smooth breeze was blowing over the budding trees and the balm of humidity felt comforting against her skin. New life was all around. She took a deep breath as she surveyed the early birds going about their normal Saturday routine.
Normal.
That wasn’t a word the residents of Repo Ridge used lightly these days. After the scandal that rocked their town, an air of suspicion and doubt settled over them like lightly fallen dust that you can’t see until you run your fingers across it, leaving patterns, marks and scars. Jane assumed it would take years before the people of this place stopped talking about what happened. It was probably the most dramatic occurrence to ever wreck their monotony.
That Friday night replayed over and over in her head. She dreamt about it often, but there was no horror, no pain associated with it. Just relief.
Jane quit bartending at The Devil’s Eye the day after the explosive confrontation and all that followed. Thankfully, there was no alcohol in Dave’s system that night, allowing the bar to go unpunished for such a horrible accident. Jane cited PTSD from the experience. She recalled to the cops that although Mr. Collins was in the bar, she had not served him, or noticed anything suspicious. They went easy on her, especially once they saw how ‘upset’ and ‘traumatized’ she was by the whole debacle. Maybe she’d become a professional actress next—the world was her oyster and Jane was ready to begin anew.
She would be leaving tonight. Where she was headed was still unclear, but that didn’t matter. Jane wasn’t concerned with a destination—she already spent years of her existence driving on a one-way road, to the pinnacle of her purpose. Now that she achieved her goal, life seemed to open up before her. It spanned out like some great wave of possibility. There was nothing she couldn’t do, nowhere she was unable to explore. For the first time in her life, she felt peace and genuine excitement for living. She was leaving her past, the person she’d been here, and taking her new self to greater heights than anyone could imagine, most of all herself.
But before she could embark on this journey, it was essential she tie up all her loose ends, for it would be the last time she left this place. And Jane knew deep in her bones that there would be no coming back.