It All Started With A Lamp

Chapter 2

    After about an hour I hear my stomach growl. Sitting for a minute, I try to guess where I am. I know I'm still in Oregon, just not where specifically. I get up and keep walking. After another 5 minutes I see a sign in the distance.

   I jog to get closer, though my body complains. 'California Border, 2 miles' I make out. I pick up the pace, wanting to get out of Oregon fast. I see a car coming down the road, so I stop and start flailing around my arms like a maniac, weaving in and out of the road.

   They pull over to the side of the road and poke their head out the window, 'Are you OK?' A young woman about my age asks. I breath a sigh of relief, and answer, ' Yes, thank you, but can you please give me a ride? I need to go to Orville,' I ask, giving her puppy dog eyes. She sighs, "Get in, she opens the door, and I hop in. "What's your name?" she questions as she pulls back into the road. " Audrey, Audrey Eller, you?" She smiled, "Michelle Winters, nice to meet you." I smiled back , "Right back at you."

   For the next two hours, we talk. About everything, our lives, families, friends, boyfriends, jobs, hobbies. I found out she's just like me, well, almost. She's 21, in a relationship, does volunteer work, reads a lot, and takes online college courses. We stop at a hotel for the night. eager to get some sleep.

   We walk up to the front desk and ring the bell, waking the woman behind the counter. "Oh dear! I'm so sorry darlings, I was just going to close my eyes for a minute or two and the next thing you know, I'm out cold! Would you like a room dearies? One bed or two?" The lady asks us, her cheeks slightly pink from embarrassment.

     "Yes, we would like a room, if it's not too much trouble. I think one bed will be fine, right Audrey?" She turns to me, "One bed will be fine, thank you." The lady laughs, "Oh, of course!  It warms my heart to see nice young ladies with such good manners!"

    Michelle pays for the room, and the woman behind the counter gives us the key. Finding our room, we unlock the door , threw our stuff down, and flopped on the bed. I fell asleep the minute my head hi the pillow, exhausted from a long day now behind me.

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Jack's P.O.V :

    I didn't want to sleep, if I didn't sleep, then I could pretend Audrey had only been gone a few hours. That I woke up to her stroking my hair lovingly. How she kissed me goodbye then sashayed out of the house in a work blouse and skirt, reminding me of what I have coming home tonight.

    But I know in my heart its just a fantasy. If the accident never happened, maybe all that would possible, but you can't change the past. She doesn't remember me, why would she stay. She I'm a pedophilic killer freak who caused her head trauma and probably worse. So I decided it'd be best to give her space, to cool down and realize I'm not out to get her. But obviously that didn't work.

    The next morning I decided to go look for her. She could have gone pretty far by now, a beautiful, innocent girl would be picked up by anyone with eyes. I pack some provisions, you know, food, water, blankets, etc., and set off.

      I pass by our favorite lake spot and pause. A slight sense of perfume, hers. I inch closer, and I see it. Foot prints, of her shoes, walking to and from the lake. I sprint towards the main road. She remembers me now, I'm sure of it.