Vermont, 2024

Vermont, characterised by the Green Mountains, Canada to the north, New Hampshire to the east, Massachusetts to the south, and New York to the west.

All places to aim for, all places to stretch to, away from your sleepy hometown village. Your soul cried for anything but mountains and rocky peaks and jagged people to match.

So you did it, you moved away, away from Vermont, wasn't important where exactly you ended up, just as long as it wasn't Vermont. Up until your move, you coped, albeit badly, with a rather severe drinking habit.

Noah had always been a quiet ally in your corner, watching quietly as you flew off the rails every weekend and most weeknights. He'd comforted you after a traffic accident you'd gotten into, emerging unscathed, he just held you.

Now you'd left and come back, expecting no massive change of the scenery or people, you trudged back through achingly familiar streets, you wanted to cry, to bite the head off whoever asked you why you were back, bark at them and snarl that this was the last place you wanted to be.

It wasn't long before Noah looked you up, you didn't know he still had your number, had he been waiting? Or just saw that you were back and blew the dust off that little pocket notebook he used to carry.

He'd texted you a slew of happy welcome home messages, though he knew how you felt about the place.

2 new messages

N: the party's slowing down now if you wanna come over, same place. nobody will offer you booze, we all know you're sober

There's orange juice in the kitchen, it's yours if you want it, we'd just be happy to see you.

Biting the inside of your cheek you relented, not looking into whoever's eyes were attached to answering the door.

It was Noah..

"Hey.. come in, honey."