It was time to go. I was getting out of this town if it killed me.
I ran back to my house, the dirty dress dragged in the mud, my hair soaked.

What to pack… well, one can’t know what to pack when they don’t know where they are going. I put what seemed important in an old purple suitcase, used only once and as a child. Finally I grabbed the keys and jumped into the jeep. Who cares if the top is down as long as I get out.

I drove and drove until I reached the train station. I bought a ticket to Chicago, hopped on the train, and I was off.

It felt as if a ton of bricks were taken off my back, and I really loved that feeling.