Family Reunion || Melanie and Michael
Excruciating. That was how Melanie described the previous week. Paranoia hung over her like a thick cloud of smoke, persuading her to abandon the modest town of Taos. Of course there was an abundance of towns in New Mexico, however Mel refused to reside in the state any longer. She had driven days on end to escape even the neighboring states, ensuring her trail would be covered. Although running seemed pointless given the circumstances...
Eventually Melanie knew she couldn't allow her anxiety to run her life any longer. If it were only that simple. It took numerous background checks of both her house and the town to convince her it wouldn't hurt to stay. Even if it was only for a few months. Besides, she felt safe here. It was far from civilization, something she could by far live without. Buried deep in the wilderness; the closet neighbors lived a few miles away. The occasional howl of a coyote gave her more peace of mind than conversation.
Lounging on the back porch, her gaze settled on the towering trees, Melanie allowed her troubles to melt away with each bird's enchanting melody. Twilight was falling upon the rustic surroundings which almost caused her to retreat indoors. She cursed herself for being so unreasonable. Still, for reassurance Mel carefully eyed the darkened forest.
What she swore she saw nearly made her blood run cold. No. I'm paranoid. Desperately searching to tranquilize her fears, Melanie squeezed her eyes shut for a moment. When she opened them, the silhouette still remained.
Leaping from her spot, the blonde attempted to seem collected, only to fail miserably. "Hey!" Melanie screamed, surprised she could even form a word.
