#that thankfully because of this savefile i've been inspired to work on

[sunnydayzes]

Chapter One: A Place to Call Home

Millhaven had been Lyla's home for as long as she could remember, but it was only recently that she had found herself without a home. Tragic circumstances had lead the seventeen year old girl to the entrance of the trailer park with nothing but the ratty and torn clothes on her back and her entire life savings - a whole 500 dollars - in the back pocket of her cargo pants, and she wasn't even sure if she would be able to afford the rent in this place. Anything had to be better than where she was coming from, and she wouldn't go back there - not for anything in the world.

"It looks like there is someone inside the office.", Lyla thought to herself, as she peered over her shoulder, trying to gather the courage to approach the office. She knew that she had to do this, and the truth was that she didn't have a choice. She had to take care of herself, because no one else was going to do that for her. Her mother was gone, and there was nothing she could do to change that reality.

As Lyla made her way towards the little building by the front entrance, she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with the anxiety of her new life. She would have thought she would have been more prepared for this. Mama had been sick for a long time. It should have been such a relief that she didn't have to suffer anymore. But, the reality was that she had been taking care of her mother for so long that she hadn't really ever learned how to take care of herself. She had always been a fast learner, however, and she knew she would tackle this situation head on.

"Breathe, Lyla. Everything is going to be okay.", she said to herself as she approached the front door, knocking gently.

"Come in.", the gruff voice called out from the other side, and she took them up on the offer, doing everything in her power to remain calm despite the chaos that raged inside her mind and her heart.