If It Makes You Happy

by Julie Olivia

Mom romanticized this town so much that it started to feel untouchable. It’s like a little pocket of the universe that existed only in her imagination. A place with the best pumpkin pies in the world, festivals for every holiday, and perfectly breezy autumn weather.

The square smells like apple pies and hay. Crunching leaves and maple syrup.

The world tilts. It suddenly feels like I’m falling through the ground, straight to the center of the earth. God, she’s breathtaking.

It’s been one week of this. Hand-holding. Stolen touches. Exchanged laughs and constant smiling. If I think about it too long, my nerves kick into my throat. It feels so real. Too real. With Allen, it was all serious conversations and work. I think I craved the adult feeling of being wanted and respected. But with Cliff, it’s…easy. It’s respect, accented with adoration. It’s flannels instead of suits. It’s not going to fancy parties; it’s playing in the snow.

Rocket runs past, leaping snout-first into a snow pile, sending Brittany into a fit of giggles. His head pops up in an explosion of flakes. Shelly, this is the best.

We drive under the covered red bridge, and I see the back side of Copper Run’s latticed sign. Thank you for visiting! Come back soon!