Rose and I met in college. We’d been assigned rooms down the hall from each other freshman year, and remained inseparable by choice through the next four years. After graduation I’d stayed on campus an extra year for a photography fellowship, and Rose shopped her new engineering degree around to land a job at a small company that designed and installed solar panels. We found a house with gloriously cheap rent in the town of Wild Haven, a sort of midpoint between the school and her work. 

Rose and I always fantasized about kicking our provincial roots and moving to the city together, but when my fellowship ended it was clear she’d found happiness where she was. It was equally clear that there was no happiness to be found for me in Wild Haven. I left, and she remained.

Though we’d seen each other frequently in the five years since I’d left, we’d always met elsewhere, usually in whatever metropolis I was squatting in at the time. I hadn’t been back to Wild Haven since the day I’d moved out. As I stared out the window of Rose’s car, much of it matched my memories-- trees, trees and more trees. Mountains of trees. Brief glimpses of rivers through leafy branches. Scattered houses and businesses nestled in man-made clearings. A largely uninterrupted sea of green.

It wasn’t until we pulled up Rose’s driveway that reality began to deviate from history. When we’d rented the little cottage on the hill together, the facade had been peeling white paint with a gray-shingled roof, a patchy grass lawn lining the gravel driveway. Now a small vegetable garden bloomed in front of cheerfully painted blue walls and white trim, and the sun glinted off the sleek solar panels installed on the roof.

“Oh my god, you’ve nested,” I exclaimed, stepping out of her car. Gravel, just as I remembered, crunched reassuringly underfoot. “I remember you said you were going to fix it up when you bought it, but…”

“It’s just a few touch ups, here and there,” Rose said modestly.

“Oh yeah, casual solar panels,” I said with a grin.

Inside there was more evidence of Rose’s renovations-- gone was the faded floral wallpaper I’d known, replaced with clean white paint. Updated fixtures and new tile in the bathroom. I peeked into the backyard and was not surprised to see the moldering old deck had been sanded and stained (or maybe rebuilt from scratch), and green-and-white striped patio furniture basked in the afternoon sun, inviting me to lounge outside.

“God, home ownership suits you. Why exactly are you moving into Allen’s place, again?” I asked.

“Well, his house is a little larger, and it’s on a bigger plot of land. And we’ll be closer to his family, too.”

I stared at her. “And so I ask again, why are you moving in with him? Isn’t moving closer to the in-laws like, the opposite of what you’d want?”

“They’re nice people, Harp,” she replied. I shrugged. I knew going against Allen was always the losing side, but as her best friend I had to say what I saw.

“My point is, this place looks great. I could totally live on this couch,” I said, flopping down on the black sectional. The leather was like butter.

“I mean I figured you’d want your own room but do what makes you happy,” she said with a laugh. I hopped back up and bounded up the stairs, eager to see what improvements she’d made on my old room. My hand turned the doorknob.

“Harp, come back!” Rose called from the foot of the stairs. I was frozen in the doorway, staring into what could only be described as a walk in closet. Dresses hung, sorted by occasion, in the spot where my bed had once been. A low dresser was placed before the window, and when I tugged open a drawer I discovered it was full of purses. Clothes racks lined the room, and there were shelves upon shelves filled with shoes. I was fully gaping by the time Rose appeared in the doorway.

“Ro,” I said, trailing my fingers across a hanger full of scarves, “did you build a fucking dream house?”

She laughed and walked over to a door I hadn’t noticed, that hadn’t existed when I’d used this room. She pushed it open and nodded, and as I wandered through a fresh wave of awe washed over me. She’d completely redone the bathroom that had once separated our bedrooms. There was a claw-foot tub and a glassed in shower and a truly impressive vanity. I gaped at my own reflection in the mirror over the double sinks.

“Why… the fuck… would you ever want to leave this place?”

“You know I love a good project,” she said, though I could tell from her smile that she was pleased with my reaction. I pushed through the last door into her bedroom; structurally it looked the same, but the plush, king size bed and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves were a long way from our impoverished post-collegiate days.

“You are such a grown up,” I said, flopping down on the bed. It was obnoxiously fluffy.

“There are definitely some benefits to that,” she said, lying down beside me. “I know I didn’t exactly get out and see the world the way we always talked about… but I’ve been pretty happy with my small piece of it.”

I nuzzled into her shoulder, smiling as her head leaned against mine. “You know, you could have gotten me back here way faster if you’d just sent me some photos of that bathroom.”

She laughed. “Well fuck me for not thinking of it. I’m glad you’re here now, though.”

I wriggled against her. “Me too. But…” I paused, looking around. “Where am I supposed to sleep?”

“Oh right! Come on, let me show you the last of my changes.”

Tugging me downstairs Rose led me to my new room. Originally meant to be a dining room, when I’d lived there the room off the kitchen had only housed a sticky folding table set up for drinking games. Rose had converted it into an office, with a desk and shelving filling up one wall and a sumptuous olive green couch against the other. Large windows, complete with a built in window seat, looked out onto the backyard.

“The couch folds out into a bed, and I promise it’s actually really comfortable,” she said. “You’ve got a closet here, and the bathroom is right down the hall. And you can always use the upstairs bathroom, too.”

“I am one hundred percent going to get my bubbles on in that tub,” I said with a firm nod. I sat down on the couch, getting a feel for it.

“Bubbles and bath salts are under the sink,” she replied with a smile.

“Ugh, I love you,” I said.

“Aw, I love you too,” she replied. I shook my head.

“I was talking to the couch. What is this, suede? My god this thing is so soft.”

Rose laughed. “I definitely could have gotten you up here sooner. I’m as big a dummy as you are.”

“That’s why we’re soulmates,” I said, lying back and rubbing my head against the couch, eyes closed.

“Alright, so plans for the evening: I was thinking we can bring your stuff inside--”

“Please don’t say unpacking party,” I said with a pout.

“I mean, we could,” she said, making a face. “But wouldn’t it be more fun to throw your stuff in the corner and then go celebrate your arrival at a bar?”

I grinned up at her. “OK, now I’m saying I love you to you.”