TERESA'S P.O.V.
One and a half months into my new life in this tiny, tucked-away valley, I was still adjusting to the quiet, remote solitude—taking each day as it came, just me, my thoughts, and the occasional clumsy squirrel bumping around outside. But just when I thought I'd mastered the art of hermit-living, the locals decided it was time to introduce themselves. Apparently, I'd passed some unwritten test or observation period, and they all seemed ready to roll out the small-town welcome wagon.
