Lamps, Towels, and Beds, oh my...

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Wren came slowly awakes, the hush around her made her wonder if she was really awake or not. She rubbed her eyes, and opened them into a dusk lit room. The heavy curtains blocked out light, not even a chink or two came in, and Wren wondered what time it was. She looked around and remembered just exactly where she was and how she came to be on this amazingly comfortable couch.

She closed her eyes, and shook her head. There was something wrong with her. 'I have a brain tumor or something. Next thing you know, I'll be moving stuff with my mind and seeing lights in the sky.' She sighed and threw her arm over her eyes, and her watched smacked her in the temple. Which reminded her that she needed to know the time, so she moved her hand out and squinted at the clock face. 1:55.

"Shit."

She whispered into the unnatural hush. She pushed up off the couch and ran a hand through her hair, grimacing at the knots and sticky sweat feeling. It would just have to be brushed out and pulled up, because she just didn't have time for much more. Running her tongue over her teeth and trying to wet her very dry mouth, she looked around the room, trying to locate her luggage. She spotted the lit doorway and headed there. She found both cases set against a wall.

She wasn't sure which was which so she pushed and pulled both of them on to their sides and opened them. She found her toiletries case, and pulled out a pair of low rise blue jeans, and a red cable knit sweater, black wool socks, and bra and panties. She went to the bathroom and five minutes later was relieved, changed, hair pulled back, and teeth brushed. She gathered all of her things and dumped them unceremoniously into one of the open cases.

She went into the kitchen, and rummaged in drawers until she found a pad of paper and a pencil. She wrote Drev a brief note, so he wouldn't freak out,

and grabbed her evening bag, dumped it into her regular purse, 'Ill sort it on the bus,' and headed out the door.

She grabbed a bus at the corner, and the driver gave her instructions to get to the main station. She made it there with just enough time to hop on to the bus to Brighton.

Breathing heavily, Wren looked at her watch 2:25. Well, there wasn't much for it, the thirty minute drive couldn't be sped up. She settled back into her seat and took the time to put her purse back in order.

When the bus pulled into Brighton, she tore from her seat and hit the pavement running. She pulled open the door just as the attendant was about to put her key in the lock.

"Please? I just need to check my box." The round faced woman smiled up at Wren and gestured her inside.
"Oh, you're the girl that just opened a box. You got a package today. To big for your box."

"Wow, thanks."

"You go check your box, got stuff in there too, I'll go get your box out from the back, we should be done, 'bout the same time."

Wren smiled her thanks and went to the little gold box that held her number. She pulled several adverts, and one large and one card sized envelope from it, from her lawyer and mom respectively. Her mom had over-nighted a card. How weird. She tossed the junk mail into the trash and went over to the counter. The box was also from her mother, as well. She thanked the lady, and went back out to wait for the bus. She was intensely curious about what was in the box, but it would have to wait for the bus ride. She set the envelope from her lawyer on the box and opened the card from her mom.

Wren,

I know it's weird to over night a card, but I didn't want to send this in the box in case it got delayed. I went to your apartment and cleared it out because the school called right after you did saying there was some stuff left behind. So that's what's in the box, along with some extra stuff I wanted to send. Also your light brown teddy bear has a secret compartment in the back of his neck. Just cut a few of the threads and reach inside.

You need to keep that, it belongs to you. I've been adding to it your whole life. I was hoping to give it to you on your wedding day, but this is more important. You be careful and call me when you can. We love you lots and miss you.

Love,
Mom.

Wren was so confused by the stuff from her apartment thing, she hadn't left anything, that she could remember. She re-read the letter over and over until, fifteen minutes later the bus to Nachton pulled up and the same friendly driver greeted her. She smiled and took a seat in the aisle, and put her box in the window seat. She tucked the envelopes behind it and pilled out her keychain. It held the key to her mom's place, one for the club and her new mail box key. She took the club key and cut through the tape.

She pulled the wads of newspaper out and tucked them down with the envelopes and picked up the brown teddy bear. She looked at the back and noticed that there were fresh stitches on his neck. Shaking her head, she put him in her lap. She would wait until she got home to see what was in there. She looked into the box and found a tin of cookies, a towel, and a photo album. The towel was her's she must have missed it, but the album wasn't. She took a chocolate chip cookie from the tin, and exchanged the bear for the album.

She pulled it onto her lap and started to flip through it. Page after page was of her. Her mother must have thought she was a vain little dip. Her at home, at work, at class, running, swimming. They were were just from the last year, and Wren's gut sank. They were from him. He's left them in her apartment, and her mother had sent it along, not knowing any better.

She sat staring at a picture of her crouched down to give a little girl a flower, when her phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out and looked at the caller ID, it was Drev.

"Hello?" Her voice shook and she bit her lip to keep her lip from following suit.