Page 8 of Forgiving Fate

I need to get back in the car. Get on a plane to a place I have never been. And face the girl that is the only person I have left in this world. But for some reason, I find myself dragging my feet. Something in me is telling me no. Maybe it’s the idea of being stuck in a metal tube for hours. Or the memories of the last time I was on a plane.

My parents’ faces flash through my mind and I am transported back to a time before everything turned black.

Mom sits next to Dad on the sofa in their living room. I am up in Alabama for the weekend visiting them. Work has been so crazy, but I try to come up every chance I get. There’s barely been time to call Logan. Not that I have spoken to her much in the past few months. She has been working crazy shifts in the ER. And with her being on days and me on nights, it makes it really easy for us to miss each other.

“I spoke to Logan yesterday.,” Mom says with a huge smile on her face.

Sitting back in the rocking chair, I smile and say, “Oh yeah? Did you tell her how much you miss your favorite daughter?”

Mom scrunches her nose at me. “Oh shush. You know you are always going to be my favorite. But I had to check on my other girl. You both are off doing such a good job. I just wish your big hearts didn’t take you so far from home.”

I nod. “I know Mom. We both miss you guys. Lo seems to be loving it up there. I heard she was moving soon to get out of the city. She’s just looking for a place.”

Dad pats Mom’s knee. “She said something about that. I’m glad. I hated her living there. There’s a crap ton of missing persons cases and crime in that city. She needs to get somewhere safer.”

I nod in agreement.

“Oh! But guess what! We’re planning to make a trip up to see her. She said she’s been meaning to take a trip to California soon, so she invited us to come explore with her. She said she texted you about it. Told me to give you my best mom look to get you to come, too.”

I laugh. Brat. That girl would sick my own mother on me to get me to take time off.

“You don’t have to do much convincing, Mom. I need a break and would love to see that little shit.”

We all fall into a fit of laughter and start making plans.

I feel a lone tear slip down my face as the memory fades away. That was the last time I saw my parents happy in the place I used to call home. Which I don’t even know if it exists anymore. There’s no telling whathedid to it.

An idea hits me and I want to ask Landon, but I’m sure he needs to get back to Washington.

I wonder how much Logan would freak out if I sent Landon on the plane alone and drove instead.

Disappointment hits when I start thinking over my plan and realize how unrealistic it is. I have no money. No clothes. No means to protect myself. I can’t ask Landon because I barely know the guy and can’t just outright ask him to lend me money.

I shake my head and turn to walk back to the car.

I can do this. Logan texted me saying that she gave Landon some motion sickness medicine for the plane, so maybe that will knock me out and I won’t even remember the plane ride.

As that thought settles, it makes me sick. I can’t do that. Logan wouldn’t put her trust in someone that would hurt me. But who’s to say that some random won’t while Landon isn’t paying attention?

My mind starts racing again, and my eyes lock on Landon.

He is leaning against the car, sipping on a fountain drink, one foot crossed over each other. I didn’t even notice he walked into the gas station. I must have been too lost in my own world.

He is wearing sunglasses, but I can tell the moment his eyes lock with mine behind the lenses. He motions beside him to the drink sitting on the trunk of the car.

I walk over and hesitantly pick it up. He watches me and shakes his head. “It’s Dr. Pepper. Logan said that was your favorite. Figured we will need it before we hit the road.”

I nod and bring the straw to my mouth. It waters, making me realize how thirsty I am. Taking a sip, the carbonated drink hits the back of my throat with a tingle and I sigh.

It may not be a big deal to anyone else, but being stuck in a basement, the drink and food options weren’t the best. So this being the first time I’ve had anything other than water in months, I take a moment to soak it in.

I walk towards the passenger door and Landon goes around to the driver’s side. He turns on the car and I wait for him to make his way towards the airport.

“I’m not going to ask you what happened back there. But I need you to answer one thing.”

I brace for whatever he is going to ask.

“Would being on a plane cause that to happen again?” He says and I’m shocked. How the hell did he pick up on that when I have barely uttered a word?

---