Where Disappointments Lead

Destiny was stagnant, she thought to herself on her way home from work. She waved to all the same people everyday, took the same route to work on the same old bike. She had been pushing to be moved to full time at work for weeks now, but was getting nowhere. She couldn't afford a car, a house, or even a nice evening out, she was stuck.

Doing the same old thing day in and day out.

Great.

It was time for a change. Tomorrow she will start looking for a new job. If Joan's Crafting didn't appreciate her enough to make her full time why should she feel obligated to stay? Maybe she could find a new route to work, a new coffee shop to stop at on her way? These small changes could lead to something big she told herself.

She pulled in the drive of her apartment complex and could only think of how she was paying for something that would never end up being hers. What was the point?

Unlocking her apartment she looked around, nothing was new, nothing was different. I was the same old stuff she had when she moved out of her parent’s house three years ago. Some things had broken and needed replacing but overall mostly everything was the same. The lamp beside the hand-me-down couch, the coffee table from her parents, and even the bookshelf once belonged to someone else.

Annoyed with the way her life was turning out she went straight to bed.

She awoke the next morning before her alarm sounded. It was like her body knew and was ready for the changes. She had a difficult time falling asleep last night so she had mapped out in her mind her new route to work. That would be the first change.

Leaving for work she was excited to take this new route.

She passed several homes with beautiful gardens. She inhaled deeply and was enveloped in the scent of lilacs. The scent brought back memories of going to lilac festivals with her grandmother. The colors and scents were once one of her favorite smells, the years had faded the memory but today it all came back bright as ever.

One house in particular took Destiny by surprise, right in the middle of all the immaculate houses sat one that was overgrown, paint peeling, and some of the shutters were missing. This house just didn't fit in with the rest.

On the porch in perfect wrapping was a little brown package. This was even more shocking as it was not weather damaged in any way. Has this package been delivered recently? She wondered if a delivery driver may have accidentally dropped it at the wrong house.

Forgetting about the package she arrived at work she feeling her spirits higher than they had been in months. She was enjoying the sounds of the birds this morning and the children across the street bickering at the bus stop. This will be a good day.

She clocked in for her shift and began working on the freight which had come in early that morning.

“Monica.” Destiny called out, when she turned Destiny continued. “I would really like to sit down with you and discuss the potential for more hours.” She said standing up straighter and squaring off her shoulders.

“I have several meetings today. Possibly tomorrow.” And with that Monica continued down the aisle to her office in the back of the store.

Another brush off.

Decision made, Destiny told herself. Tonight I will look for a new job.

The remainder of her day was quite mundane. She helped a little old lady make sure the lot numbers on the yarn she was picking out were the same, she cut fabric for several different customers, and she helped select paints for a project.

On her ride home she was again drawn to the dilapidated house and the box. What could possibly be in that box? How is it still in perfect condition? And who else has noticed it? Slowing down she was able to watch others as they walked past, no one took a second look at the house or its package. Perhaps this was nothing out of the ordinary.

Again pushing the box and its contents out of her mind she rode home.

With the newspaper laid out on the table Destiny began her search.

Law firm assistant, sounds too serious.

Carpet installation tech, too much lifting, plus she had seen her father install a carpet once. The knee kicker did not seem like an easy tool to use.

“Hmmmm. There must be something.” she groaned as she pulled a slice of pizza off the tray on the stove.

Experienced carpenter, no way the only thing she had ever built was a desk from a large furniture store and that took four hours.

Line cook, no.

Cashier, no.

Florist needed, yes.

Hastily retrieving her phone from her purse the called the number at the bottom of the tiny ad. It rang several times, she was about to hang up when she hear the distant answer.

“Hello?”

“Hi, my name is Destiny Cruninger. I am calling about the ad you have listed in the paper.”

“Wonderful, I am Liza and I own Rose Bend Nursery and Floral Shop. Do you have any experience working in a greenhouse or making floral arrangements?”

“I don't…” Destiny began to trail off thinking this was going to turn out to be a waste of time. “I don't. But I am a fast learner and I will do what it takes to learn everything I can. I took and excelled in all the art classes I could in both high school and college.” She didn't mention she dropped out of college.

“Alright. I was hoping to find someone with experience. But I have not received nearly as many calls as I was anticipating. I am conducting a few interviews tomorrow.” Liza paused for a moment and Destiny’s heart sank. “Why don't you come by the shop tomorrow afternoon to meet?”

“That would be great. Any specific time?”

“My last order for the day is due to be picked up at 4PM so why don't we try for something like 4:15.”

“I will be there.” Destiny could not contain her excitement. This could be something she could do and still be creative. She clicked off the call doing a celebratory shuffle, almost dropping her pizza in the process.

Again, she awoke before her alarm and was less tired than she had been in months, maybe it was the extra exercise. Her new route to work was an extra five miles each way.

The roads had a slight layer of water on them from the night before. But again she was distracted by the package on the porch at that house. It was still there, still perfect. How was it not sopping wet?

The distraction of the box caused Destiny to hit a small pothole which nearly catapulted her into traffic. Focus, she told herself, that package is none of your business.

At work Monica never tried to meet up with Destiny as she had said she would, typical.

It was not going to bother her today. She had another job interview and she did not have time to worry about that. She finished her shift and packed up.

The floral shop was another two miles, further from her home, tonight would be a late night.

She arrived right on time, cursing herself for not thinking of bringing an extra shirt or something nicer to wear.

“Hi, are you Liza?'' she asked the woman behind the counter.

“I am,” did she say that apologetically? Destiny watched as Liza shifted around on her spot behind the counter. On the phone last night she seemed confident and sure of herself, today did not give the same feeling. “I'm sorry, Destiny, right?”

She nodded in response.

“I just had someone come in from out in Iowa. She was running the lawn and garden department in another store and had to move here for family reasons. She has experience and I really need someone who has that knowledge. I do apologize, I never asked for your number last night so I couldn’t call you. But I have filled the position."

Feeling the tears welling up in her eyes Destiny knew she wouldn't be able to speak without crying. Instead, she nodded and turned away.

So much for the perfect job.

She didn't even get to talk to anyone about her skills and talents and what she could do for them…

Wallowing in self pity she began her trek home, but stopped when she saw the box. It was still there, in the exact same spot in the exact same condition.

This was impossible.

Leaning her bike on the kickstand she started up the steps of the house, each one creaking under her weight.

She needed to know what was in that box. She bent down to grab it.

It wouldn't budge. It was as if it were glued to the planks. She took a moment to examine it further, there was a small white and red yarn wrapped around it, but no address label and no return address.

Looking around she made sure no one was watching her. She untied the string, hands shaking she began to peel the paper from the top of the box, but still could not lift it from the porch.

She hesitated only a moment, and flipped it open. The second the lid hit the planks of the porch she was sucked inside.

She was standing at the edge of a body of water below a waterfall surrounded by trees.

She took a step closer to the water’s edge. The reflection was not of her, well not her now.

What she saw was herself returning to college, finishing her degree, the images skipped and now showed her owning an art gallery. Then she was standing outside a beautiful house and was greeted by three small children, two looked to be twins. She could not make out their faces though.

And then the reflection changed to her now, sad, angry, and somehow in aw.

With a small pop she was back on the sidewalk next to her bike, the house was gone, the package was gone.

She knew what she needed to do.

She began to mount her bike again when she noticed a young man looking rather lost, and then curious, and even confused.

She looked in the direction he was focused on, the exact place the house had just been.

And she knew without a doubt his life would be changing too.