The steady vibrations of the bus slowly shook me awake. I sat upright and wiped the sleep from my tired eyes. I must have been out for a while because nearly every seat was filled. I fumbled around in my jacket pocket and withdrew my phone. I had fifteen missed calls and over thirty text messages. All of them were from Tammy.
Yesterday @9am
Where are you?
Mylana Evans get home!!!
Seen @7:47 p.m.
The most recent message was sent fifteen minutes ago.
Today @7:32p.m.
Please Mylana, we love you. Come home and I will let you off free. I'll lie to James and you won't be in any trouble.
Mylana! Please.
Seen @7:47p.m.
She was lying, I knew she had already noticed the missing money and she was just trying to lure me back in. Without really thinking I dropped down the bus window and chucked my phone as far as I could hearing a satisfying crunch as it hit the asphalt. Now my cell wouldn't give away my location. My stomach still churned at the thought of them finding me. They would do their worst. I shook my head attempting to forget those negative things. How could they?
"Ladies and Gentlemen we will be stopping shortly to refuel; you may get off and stretch your legs. We will be stopped for thirty minutes." Just as he had said the bus came to a slow stop in front of a large gas station.
People rushed off to use the restroom or get food or both. I stayed in my seat and pressed my forehead against the cool glass and looked up at the black night sky. The stars shined so brightly, brighter than I had ever seen before and it took my breath away. At this moment I knew I had made the right decision, nothing mattered, not the consequences, the loneliness, just the adventure, and the newfound freedom.
"Hey is this seat taken?" A young woman's voice snapped me to attention.
"No," I replied glancing towards her.
She was a thin raven-haired girl with chilling blue eyes and a small instrument case.
"Go ahead," I said shifting my things under my seat.
"Thank you, my name is Rhiannon by the way." She stated as she arranged her things.
"Rhiannon, like the Stevie Nicks song?" I questioned remembering my mom swaying to the beat of the song.
"Yes mam, my mom was a huge Stevie fan ." She replied giving me a sweet smile.
"So was mine, My name is Mylana." I professed reaching out to shake her hand.
"Very unique, I love it." she praised shaking my hand lightly.
"Thank you, my parents were very unique people," I replied with a sad smile.
She sat down and situated herself and withdrew a ukulele from the tiny case.
"Where are you headed?"
"I'm not really sure, wherever the wind takes me I guess. What about you?"
"Ah, a gypsy soul, I'm actually headed to Saint Andrew's." She informed with a bit of sadness in her eyes.
"Why Canada in particular?" I asked filled with childlike curiosity.
"Well I needed a change, this place is pretty toxic. I just couldn't see myself living here for the rest of my damn life," she answered tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"I understand, that's why I left too." I agreed wincing at distant memories.
We were both running from something, she made me feel a little less alone. Not as damaged as I think I am. I caught myself wondering about her story. What toxic things chased her away from her home town? Were they like mine? Were they worst? Curiosity became an annoying itch I refused to scratch because if I asked questions, so would she, and I wasn't willing to share just yet.
"Can I play something?" she asked nodding toward her ukulele.
"Of course."
She began strumming away at an oddly familiar tune. One that I could almost name, but not quite. I closed my eyes and listen to the song feeling a wave of nostalgia wash over me.
{12 yrs. Prior}
"What are you doing over there Myla?" Her voice rang out over the sound of the sea kissing the sand.
"Building a sandcastle momma," I replied feeling the gritty white sand against my skin.
"Hey, Babe." My dad interjected giving my mom a quick loving peck.
"Did you catch any good ones out there?" My mom asked voice full of curiosity and admiration.
"Oh yeah! I'm beat, you guys ready for lunch?" Dad answered in his usual chipper voice.
"Count me in," I said breaking into a light jog toward the house
"Race ya!" dad yelled chasing after me.
"Eat my dust losers." Mom said bounding up the stairs beating dad and me to the door. "What sounds good to you guys?"
"Sandwiches!" my dad and I exclaimed in unison.
"Alrighty, coming right up." She responded poking her head into the refrigerator.
"Come over here Shorty."
"Coming Daddy," I said walking towards him.
He flipped through the static-filled radio stations until Jack Johnson's voice floated across the airwaves.
"May I have this dance Malady?" He asked bowing his head and offering me his hand.
"I would be flattered," I responded with a giggle as I took his hand.
He lifted me onto his toes and as we swayed along to the beat he sang to me in a hushed tone.
"I got an Angel, she doesn't wear any wings. She wears a heart that can melt my own and a smile that makes me wanna sing"
"I love you, Daddy," I said leaning my head against him.
"I love you most Shorty." He assured
"Mylana, wake up we are stopping in ten," Rhiannon warned shaking me slightly.
"Where are we?" I asked rubbing the built-up sleep from my eyes.
I glanced out the window taking in the view the angry ocean violently crashed into the rocky shoreline.
"Somewhere in Maine."