Moving was officially my least favorite thing. "I had no idea I even owned this much stuff!" I complained as I hefted yet another box from the back of the U-Haul.

Sarah laughed as  she held two lampshades against the front of her tight tank top. "I'm Madonna!"

"Jesus Christ Sarah! No more moving mimosas for you!" I shook my head, secretly pleased that she managed to keep the fun going despite the heat and my dark mood.

Tossing her light brown hair dramatically she flounced into my new townhouse. "Hey I brought the mimosas you can't cut me off!"

Blowing a errant strand of sweat dampened hair out of my face I repositioned the box and struggled sideways up the five steps to my new home.  I dumped the box in the front office. Realizing that it had become the dumping ground for all the boxes as we worked to unload the truck and reach the furniture stacked in the front.

Sarah had placed the lamps on her entryway table. The soft rose shades giving the foyer a warm glow. I kicked another box into the office a I followed her down the hallway and into the kitchen. Grinning wildly she handed me a full glass of mostly champagne with. Splash of orange juice.

"What would I do without you?" I smiled at her as I took a sip.

"Well you definitely wouldn't have any fun that's for sure!" She replied clinking her glass with mine.  "Believe me Caroline this move is going to be the best thing for you! New city, new start, and closer to me so I can force you to be social!"

"Was it really that bad?" I asked sorrowfully.

Sarah hugged me gently then looked me square in the eyes. " None of what happened was your fault. But he took away your freedom a little at a time and just crushed you down to a shadow of yourself. Your friends missed you. I missed you!"

"I missed you guys too." I meant it, I really had missed my friends but I had been so in love and blinded by Adam's overbearing nature that I hadn't realized how isolated I had become until it was almost too late.

"Well it's a new city and you can create a new you. Richmond has lots to offer and you're going to find a rebound boy toy in no time!" Sarah laughed as she headed back to the I haul for another box.

I groaned following her, "That is the absolute last thing I need right now!"

"Look you can't just hang out with dead guys and autopsy gremlins. You my friend need to live!" She emphasized with a shudder.

I rolled my eyes, "you know it was the only thing I could find that had immediate openings. Going from ER medicine to medical examiner was not my first choice." Adam had done that too, him being the head of the emergency department in Memphis had made finding new employer's difficult. He never would openly slander me but would hem and haw and make vague comments that turned off potential employers.

"Anyway you're going out with me tonight and I'm going to introduce you to some of my friends and we are going to welcome you to the city!"

"Please no!" I begged.

Sarah grinned "It's gonna be so much fun!'