I was 25 when I decided I didn't want to live in the city anymore. I hated my job and my neighbors, I didn't have any friends and I lost my parents when I was younger. The only person I was close to was my ex, who broke up with me 2 years ago because we weren't compatible; something he realized after being in a relationship for 6 years. I suspected it wasn't the truth but I didn't bother fighting for him, it was the best thing to happen to me in a very long time. I was tired of his constant grumbling, criticizing and leching after other women even when I was standing next to him.
Since then I've preferred staying alone. I was on a hike last year when I found a small abandoned cabin in the woods, so I tracked down the owner and bought it from him at a very cheap rate. I used up the rest of my savings on repairing the house and setting up a vegetable garden behind it. It wasn't easy and I had to take up odd jobs in the nearby village to support myself for a while, but it was worth it. I sold the excess vegetables in the village and expanded my business as time passed by. It was all going well, I enjoyed the peace and tranquility of the woods, my work also kept me fit and I was eating healthy. The only problem was the occasional sexual urges I couldn't satisfy; that was the price I had to pay for wanting to isolate myself from everyone.
Until that one day I ran into Noah in the village, my classmate from college. We didn't interact much during those days except for the polite hellos and nods we exchanged as we passed each other in the corridors. I didn't know how to react at first, if I really wanted to take the conversation further but I thought it would be rude to cut it short and leave. It had been a long time since I had an actual conversation with another person so I asked him out for coffee. He was more than happy to join me.
"Where have you been all this time? It's like you disappeared from the face of the earth," he said.
I smiled and told him everything, from the time I decided to move, to what I had been doing lately. He was really impressed that I had achieved so much on my own, in such a short period of time. He told me about his boring job as well, and how he wished he had the guts to do what I did.
"So what are you doing here?" I asked.
"Well...I needed a break, been working my ass off for 4 years now. I haven't taken a holiday since I started, I don't have time to socialize either. I was tired so I decided to take an off for a week and go exploring, that's how I reached this place. Unfortunately, I won't be able to stay here, the only motel is fully booked so I have no place to stay, will have to try the next village."
"Oh right, it's the time of the local festival...it's amazing! The entire village is decorated and there is dancing and singing and drinking. I don't participate but I do watch...and drink, that's the best part. Lots of tourists come here around this time. I wish you could experience it," I replied.