Sunny Disposition

"Okay, okay!" I snapped at my black cockapoo puppy who was practically begging me to take him for a walk. "I'm coming JJ, shut up!" He barked back at me with excitement as if he knew what 'I'm coming' actually meant.

I grabbed a random pair of shoes from under my kitchen table and threw them on, I then took my raincoat from the hallway door and zipped it all the way up. I never minded taking JJ for a walk in the rain, snow or heat, however today I had the worst fever possible which came with a lack of motivation and severe sickness of course.

"Right, are you ready?" I asked JJ. I spoke to JJ as if he was just a human, I suppose most pet owners do. I considered this dog my best friend in a way, I didn't really have people close by to me. From the age of 18 I had been on my own. My friends left town to work on their band, which left me pretty much stranded. My mother died barely a month afterwards, my father couldn't cope with the struggle and moved us to a different state to be with his siblings - as everything in Huntington Beach reminded him of her, and quite frankly, it reminded me too much of the good times I'd never get back. Moving to Oregon left me even more alone, living in a house with Aunt's and Uncle's I'd never even met before, I had no job, no social life, no clue with what I would do. After spending just over a year living with my father and his family I decided to find my own place, I found a job working in a restaurant and bought JJ, from then on I've been pretty much set and on my own. My father re-married after a year too, so maybe Oregon worked out for everybody.

I walked JJ around the town I lived in, I didn't want to be walking for long - it was cold, wet and windy and one of the lousiest November days I'd been in. JJ hopped besides me, with his wet hair in his eyes, not a care in the world, and definitely not a care that his owner had to dry and wash him before he could do anything else at home. Salem was fairly quiet this morning, very few cars, barely any people, but that's how it usually is and is how I love it. My enjoyment of the peace and the sounds of the rain didn't last long, as my phone buzzed and rang away in my pocket. I stopped under a market roof with JJ and pulled out my phone.

"Hello?" I asked, it was my dad calling.

"Hi sweetie," he cheered. "You caught in the rain? Sounds pretty loud on the phone"

"Not exactly caught, just out walking JJ, what's up?" I wondered

"Nothing darl, I sent something over to your house for you - just wondered if you had it. Ne'er mind, I'll give you a call about it later on"

"Okay," I sighed. My father usually sent me all sorts of home made items that my step-mom makes. She makes jam, candles, soaps, even dog treats - everything! And I always get a huge parcel every month or so. "Tell Bessy thanks, cya dad" I quickly hung up the phone and darted off in the direction of home - as I really didn't want to be in this rain for much longer.

I could tell even JJ was getting fed up of the wetness now, which made us walk even quicker. As I approached my street, I saw a man sat inside of my porch.

"Oh god," I cringed, not wanting to deal with any homeless, or any sellers, or any company. I checked my pockets for a backdoor key, and unfortunately couldn't find one. "I'm just gonna have to man up," I took a few breaths as I crossed roads to get towards my house. I kept my head down, and puzzled up some words together to say to the man to make him leave. I was never good with confrontation, especially with confusion - as there was a man sat at my porch. "Excuse me sir but you're just going to have to leave," I barked, walking up my steps. "This is not a shelter for you, neither are you making a sale here, so if you'd please leave before I have to call the cop-"

"Sophia" The man said standing up, his voice shook with emotion, I frowned, and my eyes stared at all of him - beginning at his feet travelling all the way up. His trainers were drenched, jeans were stuck to his large legs, his shirt too, stuck to his body, leather jacket dripping - I removed my hood, and then I got to his face.

"What-" I whispered with shock. "..are you doing here-" I suddenly felt a tear form in my eye. "..Matt?"

Notes

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