The Bakery

A fresh start…

“Wouldn’t that be nice you thought”. turning off your television.

“Imagine a new life, a new city, new people, new opportunities. Away from all this corporate greed. No judgements, nobody pretending they have you all figured out. Ideally, imagine waking up in an old timey town, like the old days”. You thought, a novel fantasy indeed.

“Time to get the mail I guess”

The mailbox was just up the street, only 5 minutes away. The perfect little getaway. A short, but effective escape with fresh air and a little exercise.

Returning home, you scan through, phone bill, flyers and ads, and whats this?

It looks like a legal document?

Opening the envelope, you read what seems too good to be true. It looked like a distant relative had passed and they were trying to give you the money?

“Ya right, I wish” you mutter out loud.

But the paper looked legit.

“Could it be?” you thought.

After some good old google research, you easily contact the lawyers office, and sure enough, the inheritance is real; to the tune of 2.3 million dollars?

3 months passed before the details settled, keeping your job, as a sceptical sense stayed about you that this was all a dream and somehow you would wake up one morning for this all to be some sort of joke or fantasy. Sure enough, there you were, late in November with 2.3 million dollars sitting in your bank account. This was UN. REAL.

Generally having little to look forward to at Christmas time, you booked 2 weeks vacation, which you would not return to work. With a flight booked, and your bags packed, it seemed you would get the chance to start the new life you always dreamed of. A safe flight and a few hours and you were destined to be kicking up your feet on on a hot beach.

But fate had other plans…

The plane crashed, leaving you the sole survivor, lost and bewildered in an unfamiliar wilderness. Days passed as you wandered through the dense woods, your spirit waning with each uncertain step. Finally, you stumbled upon a remote town, a flicker of hope in a seemingly endless ordeal. The town had a charm to it, an old timey vibe. Actually, strikingly similar to the one you had imagined at home countless times.

Cobble stone roads stretched and winded through old buildings and shops. They appeared to be hundreds of years old, yet oddly looked new in construction.

Cobble stone roads stretched and winded through old buildings and shops.

They appeared to be hundreds of years old, yet oddly looked new in construction.

With the last of your strength, now turned into hope and optimism, you entered a local public house, seeking a morsel of food and a moment's rest. But the atmosphere was unwelcoming. Dark, soulless stares were cast your way and everyone seemed cold and suspicious. It wasn't long before you felt the hostility turn tangible, and before so much as taking a seat, you turned slowly and exited the building. You couldn’t tell why, but you were moving faster than seemed reasonable. But your swiftness matched your emotions. This danger felt real. You began to pickup speed and take off back towards the forrest, looking over your shoulder to see that you were in fact being followed…

Losing your bearings among the countless buildings and roads that were unmarked and followed no particular design or patterning, a sinking feeling developed in your stomach. Your energy was low, your hands and body shaking, and you were lost. The woods would be no place to survive for much longer.

In a desperate turn, you collided with a young woman. Her eyes, wide with understanding, quickly assessed your fear. “Come here, quick,” she urged, pulling you into the back door of a bakery. She instructed you to hide behind a rack of baking sheets in a small closet. “Stay here, I’ll be back at midnight,” she whispered, leaving you in a cocoon of anxiety and the tantalizing aroma of fresh baking.

Midnight came, and so did she, with an old jacket for disguise. Silently, she guided you through the sleeping town, past the outskirts, and down a dirt road by a lake. The further you went, the more isolated the path became, until you reached a charming, secluded driveway. “You should be safe here,” she murmured. The log cabin before you was more than just a shelter; it was a sanctuary, nestled in nature's embrace, with a breathtaking view of the lake. Inside, she offered you bread, pastries, a hot coffee, and a sandwich with bread from the bakery. Questions hung in the air, unanswered, as she repeated, “I can explain later. You need some rest.”

In the warmth of the cabin, with a sense of safety enveloping you, you realized this was more than an escape; it was a journey into an unknown chapter of your life, one that held the promise of secrets, safety, and perhaps, a new beginning.