Chance Meeting

Prologue

"No, I'm done with the stress and Emotional torment of hanging around where I'm clearly not wanted. This'll be the last Time ya ever see or hear from me again, if I've my way about it, Mama."

        Unwilling and unable to handle her mother's Greed-fueled tyranny any longer, Aerin Crosswhite held up a hand to stop said mother from trying to argue the point. She was sick of being bossed around like she was a child, even though she was nearly twenty-six Years old, just 'cuz she still lived under her mother's roof. This moment was almost a decade in coming, but the Day'd finally come for her to leave behind everything she'd ever known and loved.

        Grabbing her keys from the hook on the wall next to the side door, she turned her back on Katana Crosswhite once and for all. She didn't know exactly where she'd wind up, how long it'd take her to get there, or what she'd do for money once she did. All she knew was that she needed to get outta North Carolina, 'cuz if she didn't–and soon–she was gonna go outta her mind.

        Kat dropped to her knees and started to sob as she watched her daughter walk away from her for the final Time. It felt like she'd just ripped out her beating heart to take with her, 'cuz the younger woman'd been the only family she'd left. Her father'd died a few Years ago, her son'd practically abandoned her when he'd gone to live with his own dad, and her mother'd abandoned her just a few months ago after trashing her hardwood floors. Even her baby brother didn't speak to her anymore, and she was sure that her conniving bitch of a mother'd something–hell, everything–to do with that. Now with her daughter walking out on her, and even her best friends turning their backs on her, she'd no one left.

        Ignoring the loud sobs she could still hear from inside the house, Aerin fired up the ratty lil car she'd bought. Well, Kat'd actually been the one to buy it, but it'd been put in her name and she'd paid the older woman back in full already, so she owed her nothing. That being said, it was Time for her to get outta Dodge, as the old adage went, before she found herself completely unable to. Part of her wanted to stay, but a bigger part knew that'd be nothing but detrimental to her, and in more ways than one.

        "Goodbye, North Carolina–hello, wherever I End up," she said as she backed outta the driveway for the final Time.

        Without even looking at the house she'd lived in for the last two Years, she put her car in gear and headed up to the corner, which was a main thoroughfare and would take her to the nearby Interstate.