Escape.

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Darkness is dimming through my truck's glass.I have been driving for twelve hours on the highway. I veer over to the gas station for gas. I park my truck over to the machine and take out the right amount of money and put the gas in my car. While it is refulling, I stop over to the store connected to the gas station and get food: great, I know. I get a Lunchables and a bag of Cheetos and some water.  Back on the road, I study how the world of travellers works. Parents getting kids back from sport practices, teenagers going on dates, old people going to the farmers market, families going on road trips, and then there is me. Old beat up truck with a chihuahua in the front seat, running away from my home. I have no idea where I am going, but I know I am close to the ocean.

A sudden wave of tiredness washes over me, but I have to stay awake until I find somewhere to stay for the night. I pull over to the side of the highway and take out my iPhone. I Google the closest motel -- 10 miles away. Good. I open up another app, transforming my phone into a GPS.

Back on the road, I pass the time by by looking at all the stores along the highway. Some are run down, others are brand new.

I glance at the rearview mirror and notice a car behind me that is following uncomfortably close. I change lanes and the car does the same. I turn back to the original lane and the car swerves back over. It doesn't take long to figure out that this car is following me.

I was getting more and more scared by the second. To be honest I'm too tired to deal with this.

The motel that I wanted to stay at was coming up so I sped up past it because I didn't want the car to follow. The car did the same. Cold sweats beaded down my face as my quivering fingers clutched the wheel.

As I am at a stoplight,  I glance in the rearview mirror to try to find out who this person was. An old lady. Wow all of that worrying for nothing! I think to myself.

As the light turns green my foot hits the gas petal and I make a u turn back to the motel. As I enter the motel gates, I'm seeing blue shutters and a grey roof for five different rooms and little room numbers at the top of each of the doors. I look once more in my rearview mirror to see that the car was no longer behind me. 

I park my car in the gravel road and turn off the headlights, as I take my belongings by the wrist and grab my dog to go explore. I shut the door and set Sophia down to take a break in the bushes.I look at the door to the main office to see that there is a dogs are allowed sign. How lucky have I become? I think to myself as I take my dog by the leash and lead her inside.

Automatically I feel a cold tempature to my face.I look around the room and see that no one else is in it, but there are books of all kinds, movies, a popcorn machine, anything a person could ask for. The walls were painted a dark red and it feels automatically homey. I look at the beat-up counter  on the side of the room. It's painted my favorite color- mint with stickers of all kinds on the side.There's an old deskdop computer on the side and a clipboard that points out to visitors to show who has visited in the past.

My eyes scan all walls, noticing artwork. One that strikes me the most is one with a girl sitting against a tree looking at a flower. I look closer, I know this painting. I would know it anywhere. This is mine. 

My thoughts were broken as I heard my dog barking.

I look up to see an old man smiling at me behind the counter. I glance at his features, white hair, prominent cheek bones, and shockingly green eyes.

"How may I help you?" He asks.

"I would like to stay here for the night." I said quickly.

"Wow are you in a rush?" He said, chucking.

"Well I've been driving on the road for twelve hours and would really like some sleep." I say, rubbing my eyes to prove my point. 

"Aw you poor thing, where are you coming from?" He says

"Idaho." I say, grabbing my dog up in my hands to stop her from smelling everything in the room.

"Wow that far away!" He exclaims, "What are you doing here in Washington?" He asks.

Before I can answer, he looks to my hand holding the plastic bag of my belongings. 

" Running away? Bad idea kiddo." He says leaning over the counter.

"No I'm just finding somewhere new to settle for a while." I say, showing a friendly smile.

"Oh I see, my wife and I did that too when we were young, came here from Texas believe it or not!" He says, looking up almost as if he could picture the day it happened.

"Oh that's amazing! Now I don't mean to be rude, but I would really like a room." I say.

"Oh yes yes my bad, I'll get a key now." He bends down and gets a key out of a wooden basket from under the counter. 

"How long are you planning on staying, just one night right?" He says,looking up at me.

"Yup! It's ok if I bring my dog here too right?" I say holding my dog up.

"Of course, just make sure your little buddy doesn't have an accident." He says, laughing.

His laugh was is contagious, so filled with joy, I can't help but join in.

"Yes, Sophia is very well trained." I say, recovering from my laughing fit.

"How much is it going to be?" I ask.

"Forty dollars please." He says looking up to the computer.

I hand the money to the man and let him cash it in the register.

In response he hands me the key to the room.

"Your room is located outside of this main office, turn to the left and make a small right turn, and it is room three!" He says, while gesturing the turns with his hands. 

"This motel is considered a bed and breakfast, so you can come here to eat in the morning, 8-10! My wife will cook whatever she feels like, but her usuals are just eggs or omlets, so you are welcome to come!" He says while clapping his hands together.

"Thank you so much! I can bet you will be seeing me bright and early!" I say, silently doing a happy dance because I don't have to worry about getting breakfast in the morning.

"You're welcome! Anytime!" He says, smiling.

" Before I forget,what's your name?" I say.

"Nathan, but you can call me Nate!" He exclaims while smiling.

"I'm Jennifer, nice to chat with you!" I say, while shaking his hand.

I'm about to walk out the door to go to my room until I think about my painting I saw hung up on the wall. I stop, about to turn around and ask Nate about how it ended up here.

Too tired to ask, I let it go, set Sophia back down and walk to room three.