The Cabin, Escape from the City

“Good morning, Miss Williams. Your hair looks gorgeous today.”

My doorman was such a flirt. I always loved seeing Mr. Garrison when I headed out of the building every morning. He always started everybody’s day on a positive note with his uplifting and cheerful voice.

I responded back with a wide smile and replied, “You’re too kind. My mornings would be so boring without you every day.”

“Oh, there you go, looking at me with those beautiful blue eyes. Reminds me of the ocean every time.”

I gave him another thank you smile and headed toward the subway to catch the train. My stop was 66th Street, just two blocks from the law firm. As I sat on the train, I couldn’t help but reminisce about my aunt.

She was a free spirit, a nature lover, and lover of people. She always told my cousins and me to be nice to nature, and she will be nice to you. I loved hanging out with her over summer breaks when my mom would take me upstate to visit her.

One of my fondest memories was sitting on the front porch and making homemade ice cream with her. We took turns churning it and then rewarded ourselves with a hot fudge sundae once it was finished.

Sometimes I missed when things were so simple. As a kid, you have no worries. You go about life wide-eyed and eager to learn and explore. You really know how to stop and take in things around you. When had I forgotten?

Before I knew it, I was at my stop. I hopped off the train, headed up two blocks, and turned right. I found myself standing in front of a double door with a dark wood frame.

It had the name Conrad and Bros. etched into it, and I knew I was at the right place. I rang the buzzer on the door and then heard the door unlatching.

“Come on in. You must be Miss Williams,” said the receptionist as she pointed down the hall. “Go on into the door on your right. Mr. Conrad will see you now.”

I told her thanks and headed down the long carpeted hallway. The interior décor reminded me of an old-school law firm you would see on those crime TV shows. It hadn’t been updated recently, but looked like it was fancy at its peak. I knocked on the door before entering and was motioned to take a seat.

Larry Conrad looked like the typical New York City lawyer. He was older, with cloudy eyes and long ears, and you could tell he was on the brink of retirement.

“What a beautiful woman. Your aunt was right when she said you were easy on the eyes. She loved you very much. You are here today, by her request,” he started to explain. He looked at me while he put his glasses on to read.

“Dear Brooke, I asked Mr. Conrad to read this to you. I always saw a huge piece of me in you. Your hard work, your determination, has always gotten you far in life. I am so proud of the lady you have become. I want to remind you to always love the world, love what you do, and to take the time to enjoy life. Slow down a little, smell the roses, and just relax.

“You need to get out of the city occasionally before it sucks you in. I want you to have a balance, so I am leaving my cabin in the woods to you. May it be a place of solace. A place you can unwind and let loose. When you go there, think of me as the wind blows your hair and the fresh mountain air fills your lungs.

“With much love, your Aunt Maggie.”

I hadn’t been expecting this. Maybe some old silver or something, but not this. I lifted my head up and wiped a tear from my cheek. I was so honored that Maggie would leave her cabin to me, and I was really moved by what she’d written. I didn’t know what to say.

“Thank you.” I wasn’t sure if I was talking to him or to her.

“If you can sign these papers here, I will give you the keys, and you will be on your way. Unless you have questions.” He grabbed a pen and reached across the desk to hand it to me. He slowly pointed to each line as I proudly signed my name on each document.

“Thank you, Miss Williams. Here are the keys. You are all set.”

“That’s it?”

“Yes, pretty simple indeed. Your aunt had everything already prepared to make things seamless. You will receive some additional paperwork and copies of the signed documents within thirty days, and it will officially be yours. You have a good day.” Larry patted me on the shoulder, handed me the keys, and I was on my way.

As I walked out onto the street, I felt a sense of calm in the wake of the bustling city around me. The air was filled with many aromas, some good, some bad. I mean we were in the city. It seemed like the landscaping was brighter, and the sounds were gentler on my ears.

My aunt wanted me to stop and enjoy the simple things. I intended to fulfill her wish.

As I made my way back on the train, I decided I wasn’t going in to work today. I’d told my boss I’d be in late already, and I shot off a quick email on my phone saying I would have to take the whole day as a sick day.

I needed the rest of the day to process what had just happened. I hadn’t taken a day off in over a year, always wanting to impress the bosses. But in this moment, none of that mattered.

I took the train back to my apartment. Once I arrived, I went up the elevator to my place. I crashed on the plush couch, and I dialed Leah, hoping she would answer.

“Hello. Where are you? The boss is super mad that you are not here. What happened at the lawyer’s office?” Her voice was quiet, because she wouldn’t want anyone there to work out who she was talking to.

“Well, I called in sick for the rest of the day. Our boss can deal with it. My aunt left me her cabin upstate. I signed the paperwork and have the keys. The lawyer read a sweet letter that my aunt left, and then I was on my way.”

“Wow, I don’t know what to say. That was sweet of her. What is a city girl like you going to do with a cabin, though? You could sell it.”

Before she could keep talking, I stopped her. “Sell it! Are you nuts? I have so many great memories there. I am going to take some time off work and drive up there this weekend.”

“If you take time off right now, the boss is going to flip. We are cutting it close to our deadline here,” Leah pointed out.

“You know what, I have been so obsessed with work lately, I could use a break. I’m taking two weeks off and everyone can just deal with it.” I was almost shouting now. A mix of anger toward work and some excitement over this upcoming adventure.

It had been a while since I felt such enthusiasm about something. I hadn’t had an adventure in years. The fact I had no plan was even more empowering. Before I was off the phone with Leah, I had already started typing an email to HR to submit the form for the time away before I could change my mind. I had lots of vacation built up, and this was going to be the break that I needed.

“Okay, well, just keep in touch, and let me know what you’re doing. It’s kind of scary to think of you out in the woods all by yourself. Be careful, please,” Leah pleaded.