Rachel reached across the divide and took the ticket into her shaking hand. She grasped it in her sweating palm, afraid to let go.”Well, the bus leaves in 2 hours. I’m not sure what you plan on doing till then, but theres a cafe a bit down the road,” the man in the booth explained, looking at her with curiosity and some pity.

“No…that’s alright. I think I’ll just stay here. Wouldn’t want to miss my bus. I-I’m going to see my father, after all, and he’s meeting me there. He’d be awfully upset if I missed it,” she explained quickly, trying to help him.

The old man looked slightly less worried.After all, this little town didn’t have many runaways.”Well,if that’s the case, then… have fun in New York. Blow the Statue of Liberty a kiss for me, will ya?”

“Sure.Thanks,”she said.After all,she didn’t want him to remember her, in case her mom grew a conscience and came looking for her.

She sat down on a bench and pulled out her iPod. She was in the final stretch, and she wasn’t going anywhere.