Hometown
If there is only one happiness left for me in this place, then I will survive and continue to live
Lancaster, UK, 10 June 2019
"Huh- " Lucia sighed, never expecting herself to arrive at this place. The place she had not visited for nearly 12 years, where she was born and raised as a bad girl who looks like a boy.
She kept a piece of paper that she wrote that night, the day before the plane that took her flew to this place. Nervousness, fear, sadness, all mixed feelings.
In the past, she left without a word, leaving just the people she loved because she was so afraid to say goodbye. What should she say when she saw them again?
Drrtt...drrtt...
Lucia's phone vibrated, after arriving in this city, she had not opened her cell phone at all and checked incoming messages.
"Why did you leave without telling me?" That's the content of the message that was first read by her. Lucia sighed, trying to steady her heart before actually typing a message for her mother.
"I'm sorry, Mom. But I said it a few weeks ago. I will stay in England and try to find a job here," she read the message first before sending it.
Five minutes of waiting, but no reply. She returned to keep her phone in the pocket of the jacket she was wearing.
"Shall we get off here, Miss?" Asked the taxi driver who took her to Nothingville Street.
"Ah...that's right, I stop here!" Lucia immediately got out of the taxi with the driver who helped take out the suitcase containing her clothes that she had brought from Louisiana.
"Nothing else left?"
"I guess no, thank you very much!"
"You're welcome, excuse me!" He said as he walked away.
Lucia took a deep breath, her eyes staring at every corner of the familiar place. Across the street, a place where she and her friends played, Rottenbir Park. Not much has changed from this memorable park.
From this park, she had to walk 100 meters to the house, where she, her father, mother and older sister, Alexa lived. However this time, she would not return to that house. Yes, of course because it's not her home anymore. The house was sold when they moved to Louisiana, America 12 years ago.
Three women passed by and gave her a confused glance. Perhaps, in their minds they wonder, "Who is the woman with the big suitcase?"
Feeling awkward, Lucia met their gazes with a small smile, then walked as fast as she could towards the house where she would be staying for a while.
About 50 meters from Rottenbir Park, a large, old-looking house with a sign that reads 'rooms for rent' and this house, the closest place she could stay for a while.
Lucia stood in front of an old fence with peeling paint. "Excuse me!" She exclaimed, trying to get someone to help her out there.
Silence, no answer. Once again, Lucia let out her voice and shouted, "Excuse me...!" And still no answer.
"Is this house empty? It doesn't seem to be convincing from the looks of it. But weren't there two women who lived here?" She thought. However, Lucia should not give up before actually confirming, there really wasn't anyone in this house.
"Excuse me! Is there anyone?" It seemed, Lucia was forced to find another house that she could rent for a while.
However, when her feet started to step. The sound of stomping was heard from inside the house. She turned back, a middle-aged woman came out hastily while saying something, she looked angry at someone, who knows who.
"Yes, can I help you?" Asked the woman. Lucia remembered exactly the face of this woman, she was an aunt who used to work in a burger restaurant near the shopping center. In the past, Lucia and 'Nothingville Troop' used to hang out at the restaurant for hours.
"Mrs Joana?"
"Do we know each other?" The woman asked confused.
"I am Lucia Peterson who used to live in front of Milliam Blue Lake!" She said. Yes, in the past, Lucia liked her house very much. The house which for her was very comfortable and beautiful, 20 meters behind the house, there was a small lake whose water was very clear and surrounded by trees and fields of pansies.
In the past, Lucia and Nothingville Troop used to swim in the lake, especially in the summer. Instead of swimming in Bryan's pool, swimming in the lake is much more enjoyable.
"Lucia? Lucia who used to fight often? The one who used to hang out for hours in burger restaurants? Who was ever caught stealing chocolate at the mini market?" The woman said with conviction.
"Why do you remember bad things?" She thought as she showed a bitter smile.
"Hahaha...that's right!"
"Huh? You are Lucia?" That woman seemed to be in disbelief at the reality that seemed so impossible for her, considering the young woman standing in front of her at this time was a very beautiful woman, with white skin with wavy black hair and a beautiful body shape.
The woman looked at Lucia from toe to tip of her hair, with bulging eyes that barely blinked.
"If I'm not mistaken, your name is Mrs Joana, right?"
"Yeah right, wow...do you still remember my name? Come on, please come in!" She said which finally allowed the exhausted Lucia to enter her house.
"I can hardly believe that you are Lucia who is so tomboyish, you have changed so much!"
"Hahaha...maybe because I'm grew up now! Uhm...are you live alone?"
"No, I lives with my mom. Do you still remember Grandma Maria? Who often scolded you and your troops when you played too loudly! Come on, please sit down!"
"Ah...thank you! Of course I remember, where is she?"
"She is in the room, because she is too old, her hearing was a little disturbed. If you want to talk to her, you have to be loud, then she can hear it. Didn't you move to America? How are your dad and mom?"
"Yes, we live in Louisiana. My mom and dad are fine. Now that I intend to find work around here, can I rent a room at your house?"
"Why do you want to work here? Isn't it good in America?"
"Yes, I want a new atmosphere, as well as looking for inspiration for the books I write,"
"Is that so? If you want, you can stay on the second floor. There are rooms that are big enough and there are bathrooms too. Maybe it's a little dirty now because it's used as a warehouse. It's been a while since no one has rented a room, so I rarely cleaned it."
"It's okay, I'll clean it up later. How much do I have to pay the rent for one month?"
"You don't have to think about it, you can pay anything. After all, a house of this size only lived two old women, it felt very lonely."
"Thank you very much, Mrs Joana!"
"No need to be thanks! Then, let's clean up together, after that you can immediately rest!"
"Okay!"