Chapter Two

The next morning, I woke up in the small motel on the edge of town. The bed was stiff, the blankets thin, but I had slept through the night without waking in fear. That alone was a luxury I hadn't known in years. 

I stepped outside, stretching in the crisp morning air. The town was just waking up, the smell of coffee and fresh bread drifting from the nearby bakery. The streets were quiet, only a few cars rolling down the main road. It felt peaceful, yet there was a certain energy here—something I couldn’t quite place. The town had a heartbeat, a rhythm that pulsed beneath its seemingly quiet surface. 

Deciding to explore, I made my way to the diner from last night. Linda greeted me with a warm smile. “Morning, hon. Decided to stick around a little longer?” she asked as she poured me a cup of coffee.

“For a few days, at least,” I said, wrapping my hands around the warm mug. “I still don’t know if I’ll stay for good.”

Linda gave me a knowing look. “You wouldn’t be the first person to say that and end up calling this place home.”

I smiled but didn’t reply. Instead, I focused on my breakfast, watching the town wake up. People came and went, stopping to chat with Linda and the other regulars. A man in a flannel shirt and jeans walked in, tipping his hat toward Linda before sliding onto a stool. 

“Morning, Dave,” Linda said as she grabbed the coffee pot.

“Morning, Linda. And who’s this?” the man asked, looking at me with curious but kind eyes.

“This here’s Anna,” Linda said, setting a coffee cup in front of him. “She’s new in town.”

Dave nodded. “Well, welcome to Willowridge. We don’t get too many newcomers, but those that do come tend to stick around.”

I chuckled softly. “So I’ve heard.”

Dave took a sip of his coffee before setting it down. “What brings you here?”

I hesitated, stirring my coffee. “Just… passing through. Needed a change.”

Dave gave me a look that said he understood more than I was letting on. “Sometimes change is exactly what we need. This town’s got a way of taking people in when they need it.”

Linda nodded as she refilled my cup. “It’s a good place, Anna. Folks take care of each other here.”

I glanced between the two of them. It was strange, the way they spoke about this town, like it was more than just a place to live—like it was alive in its own way. There was a sense of belonging here that I had never really known. 

“I appreciate that,” I said softly. “It’s been a long time since I’ve felt like I belonged anywhere.”

Dave smiled warmly. “Then maybe you’ve found the right place.”

The rest of the morning passed with easy conversation. Dave told stories about the town’s history, how Willowridge had been around for generations, how people who came rarely wanted to leave. Linda chimed in with gossip about the local baker getting engaged and the latest town meeting drama. It was simple, normal, and oddly comforting.

By the time I left the diner, the decision had already settled in my bones. I would stay for a few days, see if that feeling lasted. Maybe, just maybe, Willowridge could be the fresh start I so desperately needed.

As I made my way back to the motel, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched. It wasn’t a sinister sensation—more like a quiet observation, a presence just beyond my line of sight. I turned, but the streets were empty.

Shaking my head, I pushed the thought aside and headed inside. Tomorrow, I would figure out what came next. But tonight, for the first time in a long time, I allowed myself to believe that I might finally be safe.