Sophia was in a hotel room. Two months ago she had left everything she had fought for. At last she had decided to drop the ballast that was taking her to the bottom of the sea of destructive emotions.

She was there waiting for the divorce decree. And she had just received it. She was finally no longer linked to Adam. She was ready to leave everything behind. She picked up the phone and called her friend Ava from her.

—Hi Ava, I'm Sophy. I could drop by your apartment today. I have divorced Adam.

—Congratulations!. Friend, here I am, come and bring what you need to stay, even if it's only for a week. I also have things to tell you.

—I'll be there in an hour.

Sophy packed up the few things she had been able to take from the house. Just 3 suitcases and two boxes. She loaded everything into her car. She arranged the last details at the hotel and left for her friend's apartment.

Within an hour she was in front of her friend's apartment with a bottle of whiskey. At last she opened the door to an Ava she didn't recognize. She had lost a lot of weight and she looked very down.

Ava saw a Sophy more beautiful than she ever was, with an inner radiance that reminded her of her friend when they were roommates in college, with that enthusiasm and joy at the promise of a bright future. She watched her, was happy for her friend and sighed.

—What happened to you? —Sophy asked, worried, as she hugged her tightly and then looked back into her eyes. —Tell me about it.

They both entered the apartment and sat in the small, almost empty living room. As soon as she entered, she saw some already labeled boxes and a couple of suitcases in a corner.

—Chris has left me. —Ava said sadly.— 3 months ago. She is going to have a child in a few weeks.

—Damn bastard!.

—Yeah. We weren't okay. We had drifted a long way this past year. On my last trip she has met someone, and you see. Everything we had planned to do, she already did with someone else. She-she made a face.—I think what hurts me the most is that while we were together, she always made sure that we are protected, that she doesn't get pregnant before we get married. How did you get this woman pregnant? You know my job was just a means to an end. I just have to get a commission to start my dream and if everything goes as planned I'll be a mother without Cris.

—Fuck Chris! Who needs them? Do you have glasses? I brought the remedy here. The Macallan 1951 that Adam cared for so much—and shows him a beautiful bottle.

Ava giggled, almost hysterical as she stared at the bottle. She remembered how snooty Adam would show off her bottle collection. She imagined the guy's face when he saw that one of her favorite bottles had disappeared.

"How did you get the idea of taking this out of him?" Ava asked, still laughing.

—You've made my life miserable. She has closed all our joint accounts, she was boycotting my jobs and when I finally got tired of her manipulations I asked her for a divorce. She told me that she was going to make things impossible for me and to forget about the divorce. I'm not interested in anything we had. I just wanted to close that chapter, so I took what I thought I would need and left all the rest. As I was leaving the house, I had the impulse to take this bottle with me. Isn't she pretty? She-she said jokingly-I locked myself in a hotel and I haven't seen him again. I still have cash for my expenses and I haven't opened any account so he can't find me. I have been working online to support my income. I must thank good fortune for not having gotten pregnant, because a year and a half ago, just before it all ended, we had started looking for a child. I should have noticed that he was very obsessed.

—Sophy was always a lout. -Ava said, that she had never kept her opinion about Adam and his attitudes.

—That sounds like my friend. she-she paused, while she poured a good amount of drink into the glasses.-It seems that she was blind at that time. Let's toast for having opened our eyes and for a new life for both of us!

—Health! -

"Cheers!" they both said.

They drank a good part of the bottle while they talked, they told each other their plans, they updated each other and they restated possibilities.

"So, what's your plan now?" Ava asked half drunk.

—I'll go north. First stop my brother's house. And then I'll go to the cabin, he won't find me there and I can continue working as before until something comes up. And where will you go? - Sophy finally asked, pointing to the suitcases.

—It is a good idea. I don't have a plan yet. There are very few things and I was thinking of leaving them in a warehouse until I found another, smaller apartment. This one is too expensive and I will not be able to advance my projects.

—Well, if you don't have plans, you come with me. Jasper won't mind. I am also going to call him to tell him that we are going there. When can you leave?

— As soon as Macallan leaves us, we can go. - she said giggling.

— OK. Let's call Jasper. Sophy said, taking her cell phone.

— I talked. Brother said sleepily and annoyed Jasper.

— Hello Jasper, you were sleeping. Sorry, he had no idea it was so late. – Sophy said containing her emotion.

— Hello, little sister. Adam has been trying to find you. How are things going? .- he asked worried, now with a more alert voice.

— It's official, we're divorced. – He finally said smiling with relief. - Tomorrow I go to your house. I will arrive on Wednesday afternoon- I wanted to tell you that I am not going alone. A friend will accompany me.

— That's great, you've always had a place for yourself here. I wait for you and you can come with your friend.

— I love you, we'll be there.

After cutting off the communication, he finally looked at her friend smiling. She had fallen asleep on the couch. After going to the bathroom, fresher now, she went to the sofa and after a few minutes she also fell fast asleep.

The next morning around noon, after eating what was left for breakfast, the friends left the apartment empty and gave the key to the landlord.

They put their belongings in Sophi's car and set out on the journey of the beginning of the rest of their lives. They knew that they were leaving to change their destiny.

They set off north, away from Adam, manipulating and controlling him. And Cris's betrayal.

Sophy was driving and had several options to travel from Atlanta to North Carolina, but she chose the most beautiful. She needed to add something beautiful to her life after the months of grief and defeat she had been through. So she opted for one of the more popular scenic routes, I-85 N to Greensboro, then I-40 E to Raleigh. It was through this series of combinations of highways and back roads that she occupied her mind with something else entirely. She used this as a transition point, finally enjoying the cool weather and wonderful panoramic views of the rural and urban landscapes of the southern United States. They both finally did when Ava was finally able to take her eyes off her.

Along this route, you can see varied landscapes, from the farm fields and forests of Georgia and North Carolina to the mountains and urban areas.

You can also see some of the most impressive natural landscapes in the region, such as the Appalachians and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They saw that there were many attractive places to stop and explore the small towns and villages, but she urged them to get to Jasper's house as soon as possible. They wanted to heal her wounds and start with the plans they had both made on that drunken night.

Even so, the trip to the north was long and silent, both were immersed in their thoughts and memories, but it was also liberating, since they released the ballast of the past to rebuild again. They had plenty of time to think about their lives and what they wanted to do next.

At last They reached his brother's house in the north and he felt at home immediately. Sophy, a few kilometers before arriving, she sent a message to let them know that they were very close.

Jasper welcomed her with open arms and was excited to have her there. He was already free of that lout.

He greeted a slightly disheveled and subdued Ava with interest. After the introductions, the car was unloaded and everyone went inside for a drink.

—Welcome. My house is your house for as long as you need to stay. I have some drinks ready to cheer us up a bit. Dinner will be in a few minutes. I imagine they want to take a bath. Everything is ready so that they can go to sleep as soon as they like. -While Jasper told them all this and they exchanged comments, he gave each of them a huge glass of fruit juice, very fresh and delicious. A bit sweet but it made them feel so good right away.

Sophy and Jasper talked, like they wanted to tell each other everything. Ava watched them in silence as she took her drink in small sips. They were very alike, both so blond and beautiful. She looked at Jasper, very energetic, talkative, vivacious, cheerful. She sighed, she seemed very young. But she imagined that it was only his appearance because as far as she knew he was older than Sophy.

Ava let out a huge yawn without her being able to stop it. Both brothers noticed how tired she was.

—We better feed you well so you can go rest before you fall right there. —Over there is the kitchen, let's go, everything is served while I see that nothing is missing in the rooms, —Jasper said as he left them blinking.

—She's always like that, — Sophy said, winking at Ava. —She loves to give orders and do everything.— Everything is already and perfect as you like. Let's eat something, come —he said taking her arm to go to the kitchen.

Ava was awake enough to get a good look at the house they had arrived at. The place was beautiful and quiet, they stopped before a rustic-style house, very spacious and with land, windows and sloping ceilings, a typical house in the north of North Carolina. She was dying of curiosity to see the interior.

They passed through a central hall to one side was the entrance to the dining room, it looked like a spacious and bright room, even at that time of the afternoon, with large windows that allowed natural light to enter and you could see the garden surrounded by the landscape beautiful surrounding landscape.

The tables and chairs were usually made of dark wood, and the walls were covered with very light wallpaper, from there I couldn't see it clearly.

The living room was right in front of them, with a huge stone fireplace, it had a warm and cozy decoration. The walls were paneled in pale wood, and the floor was hardwood with rugs scattered in strategic places.

As far as he had seen everything was spacious and beautiful.

The kitchen was truly huge, with a large work surface and wooden cabinets. He also had black stone. It seemed to be fully equipped with the latest, very nice, for those who like to cook.

Sophy watched as Ava looked around the kitchen in amazement.

—Extreme, don't you think? Jasper loves to cook and eat. If he wasn't an architect, I think he would be a chef. Prepare to get fat. He'll take care of that, rest assured.

Ava gestured.

—She's beautiful, but you know that cooking isn't my forte.- They both laughed because they were disastrous cooks.

Ava kept looking around her, the walls were paneled with wood and stone, and the floor was a very nice rustic ceramic.

—It really is a beautiful room. She's like ready for a big family. Like a family of bears.

Just at that moment Jasper entered the kitchen. And he smiled at Ava.

—It is a house designed for a large family- he said enigmatically. - We can start dinner. Take a seat in your places, ladies, I'll serve you dinner in a moment.

The dinner was very tasty and left them feeling warm and satisfied.

—Everything was great Jasper. Thanks for all the trouble you've taken.- Ava said.

—It's a pleasure. We can have a drink to relax a bit so you can both sleep like angels. She went for the punch bowl and served the content to each one.

—Hmm. What a pleasure! - They both said while taking the drink.

After repeating herself from Jasper's drink, Ava began to fall asleep in her chair. Jasper watched this and Sophy told him.

—Ava, love, let's go to sleep.- but Ava was already slipping into Morpheus's arms. Jasper rushed to take her into her arms and told Sophy.

—I take her to the room. If you want, come behind me, or wait for me here so we can talk.

—I wait for you said Sophy. Do you need my help?

She-she is very light. How can she be so light? he said surprised. - I'll be back in a moment.

Jasper led Ava into the room. He had already pulled her covers back to air out so he just slid her on the bed and tucked her in. She was beautiful, petite and red-haired, with a few freckles on her nose. He felt helpless in her arms. He shook off this thought and hurried to the kitchen where his sister was waiting for him.

There he found Sophy tidying up the kitchen and loading her dishwasher. She was a lousy cook but very orderly.

—Here we are. Thanks for picking up the stuff.- Jasper said sitting at the kitchen counter, while he watched his sister work. On the bar he saw the familiar bottle of a 1951 Macallan, which was not his. - Where did this come from? -he said smiling- Is it one of the bottles loved and guarded by the lout?

—Well, yes it is. What is missing we have taken yesterday with Ava - said the girl laughing.

The brothers spent a long time catching up on the past in recent weeks. And after a while of pleasant talk, Sophy finally told him:

—I intend to disappear for a while. Adam doesn't know about our cabin in the mountains and he planned to put me up there for a while. And Ava will accompany me.

—You know you can stay here. He won't be able to bother you, because I won't allow it. Both can stay. If you like, the cabin is habitable, Jack comes periodically. He spends a lot of time there, so you can go whenever you like. I don't have any commission at the moment so I'll be at home, anyway, you've seen that the house is very big and we're going to be very comfortable. Changing the subject, I have to tell you something important. I have decided to change my lifestyle. I'm tired of constantly traveling and not being able to enjoy life a bit. It bothers me a lot that while you have gone through all the separation with the problems that that bastard has brought you, I was not here to support you. That ended. I have put my resignation on record and it will be effective in a month.

—Well boy, that is a huge surprise. I thought your job was your life. What has made you change your mind? I really find it very amazing that the 3 of us are in this house in the process of such a radical change.

—Memories of when we were a family have assailed me. Our parents have died very young but while we were together it was great. I want to give this place a family, my family.

—It's wonderful Jasper. Who is the lucky one? Sophy asked, thinking that her brother was about to formalize with someone she didn't even know.

—I still don't know her —she said laughing. —But if I keep working in remote and lonely places, I won't know her.

Sophy took the bottle, poured two big gulps. One each and she raised her glass.

—Let's toast to new beginnings and the realization of our wishes!

—Health.

Shortly after, both brothers separated. Sophy went to take a bath to sleep and Jasper retired to his study, to finish with his work obligations.

Upstairs Sophy was admiring the rest of the house. The rooms were also very spacious with large windows and sloping ceilings. The beds were made of dark wood and the wardrobes were also made of wood. The walls were all covered with wallpaper in shades of warm and welcoming colors. It was a beautiful house to raise a family.

Thanks for reading me.

If you see that there is something to change, I would love to know your opinion.