It was dark. How long had the sun been down? Ted's foot caught on a tree root. He stumbled forward but managed to keep his balance.

He'd spent more time wandering the woods these days. It was easier than spending time at the house.

His stomach growled and he moved his hand over it. As if that would be enough to silence the pain from his hunger. But, at least it was a different feeling.

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As his shoe scuffed the dirt he looked up. He had made his way back to his uncle's place without thinking about it.

"Or...I guess it's my place now..." Ted said aloud to correct his thoughts.

Before he knew it, he was already pushing open the back door. The house was dark, but he'd have to replace the lightbulb for it to work again. And, that just seemed like an ursuepassable mountain.

Sure the place was his, but there was a lot of pressure from his family. A lot of them seemed upset it went to him, and not Ted's grandparents or aunts and uncle's.

The place gave him mixed feelings, but he couldn't sell it. That was obvious enough to him.

It was a huge blessing. His housing was essentially guaranteed. It was just far away from most things, and everything around seemed to trigger various melancholic memories.

A truly bittersweet life that he was slowly settling into.