Chapter 1

As I sat on the couch, staring at the blank wall, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of emptiness. My girlfriend had just dumped me, and I was left alone to pick up the pieces of my shattered heart.

We had been together for three years, and I thought everything was perfect. But I guess I was wrong. She had been distant for the past few weeks, and I couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I thought we were happy, but I guess I was just deluding myself.

I remembered the day she broke up with me like it was yesterday. We were at the park, enjoying a beautiful sunny day, when she suddenly stopped in her tracks and looked at me with tears in her eyes.

“I can’t do this anymore,” she said, her voice trembling. “I’m sorry.”

I felt like I had been punched in the gut. I couldn’t believe it. I thought we were happy, but I guess I was just fooling myself.

Now, as I sat on the couch, I couldn’t help but wonder what I had done wrong. Had I not been enough for her? Had I not been the man she wanted? The questions swirled in my head like a never-ending vortex, sucking me down into a pit of despair.

I knew I had to move on, but it was hard. I had given my heart to her, and now it was gone. I felt like a part of me had been ripped away, leaving a gaping hole that I didn’t know how to fill.

But as the days passed, I began to realize that I had to let go. I had to move on and find a new love, a new happiness. It wouldn’t be easy, but I knew I could do it. I was strong, and I would get through this.

So, I took a deep breath and stood up from the couch. I knew it was time to start a new chapter in my life, to find a new love and happiness. And as I walked out the door, I knew that I would never forget the girl who had broken my heart, but I also knew that I would be okay.

But hey, at least I have my trusty 2008 F150 dual cab Ute and enough money to live on for a few years.

As I sat in my living room, staring at the blank walls and empty bookshelves, I couldn’t help but think about my ex-girlfriend, Sarah. We had been together for three years, and I thought I had known her better than anyone. But there was one thing she never knew about me, one secret I had kept hidden from her.

I had a secret bank account, one that I had opened when we first started dating. It was an account, just a hundred thousand dollars, but it was enough to cover my own expenses and keep me afloat in case things ever went south with Sarah. I had never told her about it, and I had never intended to.

I couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if she had known about the account. Would she have been more understanding, or would she have been angry and hurt? I would never know the answer to that now, because we had broken up a month ago, and I had lost her forever.

As I secured the last of my belongings in the back of the Ute, I took a deep breath and closed the tailgate. The weight of my past life felt like it was lifting off my shoulders, and I felt light and free. The sun was setting over the horizon, casting a golden glow over the landscape.

I climbed into the cab, started the engine, and headed out onto the open road. The wind whipped through my hair as I accelerated, the wheels spinning beneath me as I left the city behind. I felt alive and invigorated, ready to embrace whatever lay ahead.

As I drive down the highway, the wind whipping through my hair and the sun beating down on my face, I can’t help but feel a sense of freedom. I’ve got nowhere to be and nothing to do, and that’s a liberating feeling.

I had no idea where I was heading but As I drove down the winding road, the GPS directed me further and further away from civilization. The trees grew taller, and the air grew cooler, until I found myself surrounded by a dense forest. I had been searching for the perfect spot to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, and I had a feeling that this might be it.

I had arrived in Illinois

As I rounded a bend in the road, I saw it: a small, overgrown clearing surrounded by tall trees. In the center of the clearing stood a dilapidated sign that read “Campground.” I pulled into the clearing and parked my truck and got out to explore.

Description of the campground:

37.3 Acres which includes 2 acres of man-made lake with beach area. Attached shower house. 120 campsites, with many electrical pedestals.

Farmhouse: Proposed renovations; Stone residence originally constructed in 1863. Two Story 3,072 sf +/-, presently gutted and not habitable. Proposed extensive renovations including windows, stairs, doors, trim, insulation, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, flooring, cabinetry, fireplace repairs, living room, bedroom.