“Ugh, yeah. . .I did graduate Summa Cum Laude.”
Pushing myself off my friend, I did give her a look of exasperation as I sat up. “No, this is great. I’ll get a little rest and relaxation while I try to figure my life out.”
“You should do it. As much as I hate the thought of living by myself again because, duh, I’d miss you, I totally think you should do it.”
We sat in silence as the finale of The Bachelorette ran on the television. I was considering all of the ways that this change of life path could go sideways where I was certain that Katy was trying to mentally undress one of men on the screen.
“Yeah,” I whispered as the credits ran on the screen. “I think that I need a break to get my life sorted out. Yeah, I’m going to spend some time in the mountains and relax.”
“Think you’ll run into anyone you know while you’re there?”
I paused as I considered her question.
“No. They’re all vacation homes. No full-timers would be there at this time of year. It’s like the best place to get away.”
Katy winced as she lifted her body off the couch and then held her hand out for mine. She pulled my body off the couch with hers.
“Do it. Literally, there is nothing to lose here. I’ll be fine while you’re gone. Maybe I’ll even come to visit. I have a few PTO days I can use.”
Smiling at my friend, I told her that I should probably dry the rest of my clothes and start packing. Katy followed me to my room and began helping me toss anything I would need to use while staying at the cabin that barely got used once every couple of years. My toiletry bag contained more than it did when I traveled to Europe for three weeks, despite the fact that the large wooden home was in a gated community only two hours from the town where I grew up.
A yawn snuck up on me and I glanced at the clock on my nightstand, noting the late hour. I thanked Katy for the packing help as I grabbed a set of clean sheets from my closet and started stripping the bed. I was not about to sleep in the sheets I’d napped in earlier while wearing my flying attire.
Katy helped and then gave me a huge hug as she told me that she was glad I was home safely.
“You better say goodbye to me in the morning before you leave.”
“I will. I promise.”
She left my room, and with a quick brush of my teeth, I donned my pajamas and slipped into bed. Unlike earlier today, when my mind was riddled with “What ifs,” the clarity I felt by taking the mini vacation helped lull me into a deep sleep.
Tomorrow morning I’d head to one of the places that insured I wouldn’t be bothered. It was a safe haven for my family and now it was my turn to use the tranquility to my advantage and figure out my next steps.
There was no way I could mess that up.