As the clock on her dashboard ticked past midnight, exhaustion began to set in Laura’s eyes felt heavy, and she realized she couldn’t keep driving much longer. She needed to rest, to regroup, to try and make sense of the chaos her life had become.
A neon sign flickered in the distance: “Starlight Motel – Vacancy” Laura let out a sigh of relief and flicked on her turn signal.
The motel was a modest affair, a single–story building with peeling paint and a dimly lit parking lot. Laura pulled into an empty spot and cut the engine, sitting in silence for a moment. The weight of her decision to leave, to run, settled heavily on her shoulders.
Taking a deep breath, she grabbed her purse and stepped out of the car. The night air was cool against her tear–stained cheeks as she made her way to the office.
A bell jingled as Laura pushed open the door. Behind the counter, an older man with thinning hair looked up from a crossword puzzle.
“Evening,” he said, his voice gravelly. “Or I guess it’s morning now. Need a room?”
Laura nodded, suddenly aware of how she must look – disheveled, makeup smeared, eyes red from crying. “Yes, please. Just for one night.”
The man didn’t seem fazed. He’d probably seen his fair share of late–night arrivals in various states of distress. “Single or double?”
“Single,” Laura replied, her voice catching slightly on the word. Just yesterday, she would have said double without hesitation.
The man nodded, tapping at an ancient–looking computer. “That’ll be forty–five dollars. Cash or card?”
Laura fumbled in her purse for her wallet. “Card, please.”
As she handed over her credit card, Laura caught sight of her wedding ring. The sight of it sent a fresh wave of pain through her. She slipped it off quickly, stuffing it into her purse.
The man either didn’t notice or chose not to comment. He processed her payment and handed her a key attached to a large plastic fob.” Room 7, just down to your lett Checkout’s at IL. There’s a vending machine by the ice maker if you need anything”
“Thank you,” Laura murmured, taking the key.
As she turned to leave, the man spoke again. “Miss?” Laura looked back. His expression had softened slightly, “Whatever it is, it’ll look better in the morning. Always does.”
Laura managed a weak smile. “Thope you’re right”
Outside, Laura located Room 7 and unlocked the door. The room was small and dated, with faded floral wallpaper and a TV that looked like it was from the gos. But it was clean, and right now, that was all Laura cared about.
She sat on the edge of the bed, the events of the day replaying in her mind. The failed dinner, the confrontation at the restaurant, Leon’s face when she caught him. It all felt like a bad dream, but the ache in her chest reminded her it was all too real.
Laura kicked off her shoes and curled up on the bed, not bothering to change or even pull back the covers. As she lay there in the dark, the tears came again, hot and relentless. She cried for the lite she’d lost, for the future she’d planned that would never come to be, for the trust that had been shattered.
Eventually, exhaustion overtook ber, and Laura fell into a fitful sleep.
The next morning, Laura woke to sunlight streaming through the thin curtains. For a blissful moment, she forgot where she was and why. Then reality crashed back, and the ache in her chest returned full force.
She glanced at the bedside clock- 6:30 AM Early, but she had no desire to stay in this room any longer than necessary. She freshened up as best she could in the small bathroom, splashing water on her face and running her fingers through her tangled hair.
As she gathered her few belongings, Laura caught sight of herself in the mirror. She looked pale and drawn, with dark circles under her eyes. But there was something else there too – a determination she hadn’t seen in herself for a long time.
“You can do this,” she told her reflection. “One step at a time.”
– BUT ON THE FRONTIER
Laura checked out quickly, avoiding eye contact with the man at the desk. She didn’t want to see pity in his eyes, didn’t want to be reminded of how broken she must have looked last night.
Back in her car, Laura took a deep breath before starting the engine. She still had no idea where she was going, but she knew she couldn’t stay still. Moving forward, even without a destination, felt better than going back
She pulled out of the motel parking lot and back onto the highway, the rising sun at her back. For a while, she drove in silence, her mind mercifully blank. The monotony of the road was almost soothing, allowing her to focus on nothing but the white lines passing beneath her tires.
But as the miles ticked by, Laura’s thoughts began to wander again. What would she do now? Where would she go? The future stretched out before her, vast and uncertain. The thought was both terrifying and exhilarating
She was so lost in her thoughts that she almost missed the first signs of trouble. A slight shudder ran through the car, barely noticeable at first. Laura frowned, her hands tightening on the steering wheel
“Come on,” she muttered. “Not now.”
But the car had other ideas. The shuddering increased, and a worrying rattling sound came from under the hood. Laura’s heart sank as the engine began to sputter.
“No, no, no,” she pleaded, guiding the failing vehicle to the side of the road.
With a final, protesting cough, the engine died completely, Laura coasted to a stop on the shoulder, her mind racing. This couldn’t be happening. Not now, not when she was already so lost and alone.
She turned the key in the ignition, praying for a miracle. The engine whined but refused to turn over. After several attempts, Laura gave up, slumping back in her seat.
“Perfect,” she said to the empty car. “Just perfect.”
Laura looked around, trying to get her bearings. The highway stretched out in both directions, empty save for the occasional passing car. Fields and sparse trees lined the road, with no buildings in sight. She had no idea where she was or how far it was to the nearest
town.
For a moment, panic threatened to overwhelm her. She was stranded in the middle of nowhere, with no one to call for help. The unfairness of it all – on top of everything else she was dealing with – made her want to scream.
But Laura took a deep breath, forcing herself to think rationally. She couldn’t stay here. Someone would have to come along eventually, but sitting and waiting felt too much like giving up.
With a resigned sigh, Laura grabbed her purse and got out of the car. The morning air was cool, carrying the scent of grass and distant rain. She looked up and down the highway, trying to decide which way to walk.
After a moment’s hesitation, she chose to go forward, in the direction she’d been driving. It felt symbolic somehow, continuing to move ahead despite the obstacles in her path.
Laura had been walking for about fifteen minutes when she spotted something in the distance. As she got closer, she realized it was a gas station. Relief flooded through her. Maybe her luck was finally turning around.
The station was small and looked a bit run–down, but to Laura, it was a beacon of hope. A faded sign above the door read “Hank’s Gas & Repair”
CHAPTER SIX FORMER FLAME
CHAPTER SIX – FORMER FLAME
As Laura pushed open the door, a bell chimed overhead. The interior was cramped but clean, with racks of snacks and a small cooler section. Behind the counter stood a young woman, probably in her early twenties, flipping through a magazine.
The woman looked up as Laura approached. “Morning,” she said with a friendly smile. “What can I do for you?”
Laura tried to return the smile, though she was sure it came out more like a grimace. “I hope you can help me. My car broke down about a mile down the road. Is there anyone here who could take a look at it?”
The woman’s smile turned apologetic. “Oh no, I’m sorry to hear that. My dad’s usually the one who handles car repairs, but he won’t be back for another hour or so. He had to run into town for some parts.”
Laura’s heart sank. “An hour?” she repeated, trying to keep the desperation out of her voice.
The cashier nodded sympathetically. “I know, it’s a pain. But hey, at least you made it here instead of being stuck out there, right?
Why don’t you hang out for a bit? We’ve got coffee if you want some, and I wouldn’t mind the company.”
Laura hesitated. The idea of waiting around for an hour wasn’t appealing, but she didn’t have much choice. And the offer of coffee was tempting – she hadn’t realized how tired she still was until now.
“That would be great, thank you,” Laura said, managing a more genuine smile this time.
“I’m Megan, by the way,” the cashier said as she moved to the ancient–looking coffee machine in the corner.
“Laura,” she replied, following Megan to the counter
As Megan prepared the coffee, she glanced back at Laura. “So, where you headed? We don’t get many people stopping by who aren’t locals or truckers.”
Laura hesitated, unsure how to answer. “I’m not really sure,” she admitted finally. “Just driving, I guess.”
Megan nodded, not pushing for more details. She handed Laura a steaming styrofoam cup. “Well, sometimes that’s the best land of trip. No plans, no expectations.”
Laura took a sip of the coffee. It was surprisingly good for gas station brew. “Thanks,” she said, both for the coffee and the lack of
prying questions,
As Laura leaned against the counter, her eyes wandered around the small shop. Something caught her attention – a small display of local artwork near the register. There were paintings of landscapes, mostly, but one in particular stood out. It was an abstract piece, all swirling colors and bold lines.
“That’s interesting,” Laura commented, nodding towards the painting
