Chapter 003

Cornelia

Mason was right!! Amryth is just the way I left it. Amryth's a small town forgotten by everyone outside of it, It stands still in time, and the people who live here go through the same cycles as well. They are born, they slack through school, find a girlfriend or boyfriend in high school, get married after graduation and then slack at their parents jobs everyday till they die. I know some wealthy outsiders view this kind of life as simple and idealistic..... but it's so far from that.

"Dream Killer"

that's what I call this town. Forcing every generation to live through the same lives again again and again...... with no way of escape. Getting out of Amryth was really hard both literally and metaphorically. This little dot of paradise was situated in middle of the fairy mountains, due to the difficult terrain there was no train connectivity and it was too small for an airport. The nearest train station was Charlottesville, from there it was a three hour drive to Amryth. There was a bus but it was early morning, just twice a week. So for a 17 year old with no car...... who didn't want anyone to know she's leaving...... it was a 100 km hike to Charlottesville. I am still grateful for that set of tourists, who found me after I had walked 10 kms, I am so grateful for that lift.

As I sit at Bella's killing time and drinking cup after cup of coffee, I cannot help but realise I did the right thing by running away. There are still the same groups at Bella's..... at the breakfast counter a few old men are sitting discussing politics and town gossip, then there's that lovely congregation of house wives sitting at the big table in front of me, I can see both old and new faces among them, a few of my high school colleagues are part of this congregation now, then there are kids doing all sorts of things to get their mother's attention and there are those occasional tourists..... the only breath of fresh air about this town.

I know that both the congregation and the old men have seen me...... now I would be the topic of gossip for the next two months or so. They're talking about me already.... I can catch the whispers. Look Cornelia is back..... I wonder which millionaire she will trap this time..... she is so shameless, she still talks to Mason..... did you hear her fiance just died......

I am very much capable of ignoring the gossip.... infact this is what I've always done.... but not this time.... this time it hurts more and I don't know if I can take this till 8 pm..... I should leave.....

I got up to collect my things and go out, but I don't know why my steps took me in the opposite direction and I was standing in front of those ladies, all dresses in similar skirts and sweaters.... awkwardly I said....

"Hi... long time no see.... I believe I have given you ladies a lot to talk about"....

This was followed by an awkward silence and then nervous burst of laughters and fake concerns and greetings from the table....

I was not stepping down.... not now..... with the most sarcastic voice that I could muster up I greeted several of the members of the congregation.....

"Judy.... I heard your son got expelled from Norkel University due to possesion of narcotics.... I'm so sorry..... let me know if I can do something.....

Myra.... I'm sorry you couldn't complete high school.... but I'm sure being married to Jamie and your three kids are a delight!!

Cora... How's being married....again.... you know they say third times a charm....

........."

I had gotten everyone's attention.... the entire diner was looking at me.... there was complete silence. I was glad I had asked about everyone from Mason during our drive. This is the thing about Amryth, everyone knows everyone's dirt.... but it's never said out in the open, only gossiped behind the backs.

My work here was done...... I had proven I won't be bullied this time. I walked to the door and decided to walk up to the lake..... it's only 5 pm.... I still have 3 more hours to kill before I can go to my parents home.

The lake was just a 20 minutes walk away, it was beautiful. During high-school this place was my only solace. People from town rarely come here, I can only see two faces that I recognize and then there is a couple I don't know... they must be tourists and then there's this loner on the other side of the lake.... doesn't he know it's dangerous to go to the forest at this time.... he must be a tourist.... should I try to call out to him...

I decided to let the loner be alone and I settled at a bench and started reading.... After Matt I cannot stay idle... I need to keep engaged.... otherwise the memories become too much.

I was woken up by a gentle shake to my leg.

"Hello!! ..... you shouldn't sleep outside... you'll catch a cold"

said the stranger who had woken me up. I looked at the time in my mobile phone it was 9.30 pm, I must've been more exhausted than I thought.

"Thanks, I think I'll head to my home now.... Goodbye"

I said to the stranger who had woken me up. I gathered my things and got up to walk back to my parents home ..... no to Darcy's inn.... I'll deal with my parents tomorrow.

The stranger started walking with me....

" I'm new here, mind showing me the way to town."

I nodded and kept walking, the stranger matched my steps. It was really quiet at this hour, I can only hear the voices from the forest... wolves, birds etc.

"So how long have u been living here? Ms."

asked the stranger breaking the silence.

"I was born here and I lived here till I graduated high school, I'm Cornelia Von by the way."

"Hi Cornelia I am Damon. Always a pleasure meeting beautiful ladies."