Caitlin stirred as her alarm blared and woke her up. She sat up angrily and looked around. This wasn't her room. Where was she? It all came rushing back to her, what had happened and why she was here. Caitlin looked around her old room. She felt like she was in the past. Everything was exactly the same. How she had left it. Well no more. The room had to change, just like she had changed. She wasn't the same, naive Caitlin anymore. But first a run. Caitlin quickly put on her running clothes, and left a quick note and slipped out
Caitlin loved pounding the streets, early in the morning. It cleared her head, and got her ready for the day ahead. It also gave her time to think. Now that that she was here, what was she going to do? How was she going to support herself? She had some savings, but how long before they ran out? She didn't want to ask her mum or brother, as they had their own lives and she didn't want to be a burden on anyone. She resolved that she would get herself a job. She would pave her own way forward and not rely on anyone's support. She would not be a burden to anyone. But first things first
She went into the nearest do it yourself shop. She got a trolley, and filled it with wallpapers and bedroom equipment. She had decided to do a complete overhaul of her room. Because she had changed as a person, her room had to change too. It had to reflect who she was now as a person. She would not be trapped in the past anymore. After paying, she made her way home. She got in and headed straight upstairs and got straight to work. She stripped of all her old wallpaper and put new one on. She changed her bedsheets and bedcovers. She was deciding whether to throw out some of her old furniture when she saw it again. There it was, just as she'd left it all those years ago.
She ran downstairs and had some food, to take her mind off everything
"So, any plans for today?"
"I thought I'd just walk around and familiarise myself with the town again"
Caitlins mum and brother exchanged looks
"I know what you are thinking. I'm not going to seek him out. We live in a small town, so I might see him occasionally. But don't worry. What we had was in the past. I'm not looking to rekindle anything"
"I'm only asking because you were upset when everything happened"
"Well you live and learn. It just made me stronger. I know that I'm strong enough to not let anything affect me again. Just relax mum. I'll be fine"
"I'm a mum. I'll never stop worrying. But I just don't want anything to hurt you anymore"
"I'll be ok. I love you for worrying but I'm ok"
Caitlin walked around the town. Everything was exactly the same as when she had left. She felt like she had stepped back into the past. Nothing had changed. She walked into a coffee shop and ordered herself a hot coffee. She wandered if the people had changed. Caitlin took a sip of her coffee, and thought about her life, everything that had happened that had led her back here.
"Caitlin, is that you?"
Caitlin smiled at the waitress, "hi. Good to see you"
"When did you get back?"
"Just yesterday. Anyway how are you? What's new?"
She quickly took a seat, and filled Caitlin up on everything that she had missed. Caitlins heart sank. It was just what she thought
"So everyone is still here and nothing has changed?"
"Pretty much"
"I don't understand. There's only so much you can do here. Doesn't anyone want to better themselves?"
"You left. Why are you back?"
"My reasons. But it's as I thought. Nothing has changed"
Caitlin walked around some more, just to kill the day. She didn't realise where her feet had brought her, until she looked around. Why here? Out of everywhere, why here? He would be here, and she didn't want to bump into him. She wasn't ready yet. She took off running home. She got in, and went straight to her bed
"Mum, I subconsciously went their"
"I thought you might"
"But why mum? I left that all behind. Broke my relationship with him. So why did I go back there?"
"I think that you know the answer to that"
"No mum. That's not true"
"Isn't it?"
"It can't be. Not after everything"
"It's not up to you"
Duff duff duff. What's wrong with Caitlin? As always, feedback appreciated
