Finally pulling up outside the parlor was a strange experience. How many years had it been since he had left? Six at least. Hands crossed over the steering wheel he sat watching the orange and red leaves dancing amongst the wind that blew down the sidewalk. So much had changed in those years, but not here, not this place. The darkening clouds rolling slowly across the sky framed the whole scene.
Fall had returned and for the first time in far too long so had he. Removing the key from the ignition he retrieved the old canvas duffel bag from the passenger's seat. Opening the door and getting out of the truck the wind tousled with his hair, still unused to having the length back in it he swept one hand back through it and slid a baseball cap on closing the door behind him.
Long ago he lost his acclimatization to this weather, this season. Pulling his forester's jacket closer around himself he shouldered the bag and fished the keys out of his pocket. Fat rain drops began to fall as his fingers adjusted the keys unconsciously seeking and finding the one of the door. Pausing at the door, the smell of the damping soil and concrete around him drifted to his brain. Earthy, cool and moist the air was smooth against and around his face and hands, droplets of water caught on his skin before dribbling off. He could have stood there slowly soaking in this place as the rain drenched it but he was back for a reason and he needed to get things prepared.
Turning the key and opening the door he slipped inside opting to not turn on the main lights. His memory guiding him flawlessly back to the desk where his fingers flicked on the lamp. Its warm soft glow still effective after all this time.
Removing his jacket and propping the duffel bag against the desk he removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair one again. The cleaning crew he had come in the day before had done a great job of removing the passage of time from the place. Discarding the hat to the chair he proceeded across the room and turned on the heater. The faint smell of warming dust started to permeate the room. Comforting safe memories of solitude slipped in and out of his mind as he removed the bags contents and started to set everything up.
The laptop was a new edition but it went everywhere with him now. The clean sheets and robe were folded neatly next to it as it began its boot up procedure. The small clay aroma therapy jar spluttered into life, the essence of nutmeg and pumpkin sitting in a few drops inside its crucible.
Moving behind the dividing wall to the back of the room he snapped one sheet out and laid it over the table straightening it and then repeated the process with the second sheet. Hanging the robe in the changing room he commenced lighting the large column candles around the room.
The smell of the warming oil wove it's away around the parlor back to the table behind the dividing wall at the front. Inhaling slowly he closed his eyes, a single low baritone rumble of thunder sounded across the town accompanied by one fork of lightning striking out at the heavily wooded mountain side. All he saw was the dim flash through his eye lids as his fingers straightened the towel its long fibers soft to the touch.
