THE ALUMNI WHO LOVED ME

The rain drops falling on me was a perfect disguise for the tears that fell from my face. Nobody could tell that I had been crying for almost an hour now, not that anyone cared. The boxes were already in my car, stacked unevenly and damp from the downpour.

I slammed the trunk shut, soaking through my clothes until I couldn't tell what was water and what was grief.

I definitely couldn't stay in that house any longer. It made me sick as f*ck. Besides, there was nothing left for me here anyway, so why stay any longer?

It's funny how six months ago my life was perfect. I had a family, a job, a boyfriend who I loved very much. But now with everything gone, it makes me feel like I'm a curse. There was nothing left for me here, so I drove.

The rain blurred the road, making it hard for me to see, but it was certainly hard to miss the "Welcome to Greendale"sign. I exhaled for the first time in days.

A small town, quiet and tucked between endless woods, it was supposed to be peace. A clean slate.

I stopped to get some gas and coffee at a small diner. The store looked half dead, it made shivers run down my spine.

"Uhh...anyone there?" I called out. As soon as I turned my back to leave, I saw a man behind me.

I hadn't heard the door open, hadn't seen him come in. He was just there - tall, pale, blonde with green eyes, it looked like he'd been standing there long before I had walked in.

"I'm sorry, miss," he said politely. "Didn't mean to scare you.was out cleaning the pumps"

"It's fine" I muttered.

"I'd like to get some gas please. And maybe some coffee," I added.

His eyes trailed over me, pausing for a second at my cleavage.

"Excuse me?" I asked, folding my arms.