Lila’s hope
One stone for each event, thought Lila as she walked the beach. The smooth round stone was for her lost job back in Moose Jaw. The second stone she laid next to the first was her boyfriend and his endless late nights at work and the giggly voices on the phone. The third stone in line with the first two: a small town mind and need to escape. The fourth and final stone was part of everything here and now. A bus ticket to Vancouver, a new job with a bakery that paid half what the old one paid, but she loved the wood floors and the strong coffee and the owner with her Russian accent. It all felt right. The tiny apartment had a “bedroom” if a curtain over an alcove counted, but it was near Commercial Drive and she could walk to the health food store, the park and everyone smiled at her and welcomed her. Lined up on the log, the stones were a testament, hopeful sculpture and Lila walked away and smiled all the way home.
Thanks to Charlotte Kinzie at Kinzie Photo for the use of the image.