Author's Note: Okay, I'm back from vacation! This is probably the shortest chapter you will ever read in your life, haha. But not to fear, this is just meant to hold you guys over until I get the next one typed up. Which is finished and much more exciting than this, I just won't have time to get it posted this weekend. But that one will be up within the next few days, promise. This chapter was so short because with Jasper out of the picture temporarily, Alice does a lot of self reflection. And that can get a little annoying, so I kept this one nice and short. Much love, readers, I'll post soon!
I tried my best not to sulk as I fetched up our backpack and took my first steps toward the south. The scent of him was everywhere.
This wasn't going to be easy for me, I knew that much. After all, he'd run away from me. Where was I going to find the motivation to bring him back with me when he'd willingly abandoned me? Where would my strength come from late at night when I didn't have him there to encourage me?
All the while the vision played and replayed in my head, the young but fiercely beautiful Maria kissing him hungrily. I had to admit his rejection of her tasted good. But it was clear this visit had opened up a whole cupboard of skeletons I was just beginning to unearth.
After a while, human speed became frustrating as it so often did. Slipping my shoes off, I put them in the backpack and shot off.
Running had always seemed to put things into a more rational perspective for me. I never quite knew why or how, but it did. Just as soon as the grass swept across the bottoms of my feet and the breeze weaved through every strand of my hair, it banished all my negative energy and thoughts. And when that happened, I could find my motive and maybe even some happiness in that.
I ran all night until I reached Oklahoma. I knew I was so close to him in relation to where I had been earlier. Truthfully I could have found him within an hour or so if I were fast enough. But I decided it was best to wait at least a day or so. Not only was it a good exercise for my patience, but it would give Jasper the time he seemed to so desperately need.
So, against my true will, I stopped at a motel in Elgin.
"What can I get for you, darling?"
It was about five in the morning when I checked in, daylight nearly beginning to break. The woman who serviced me was stout and sweet, her gray hair pulled back into a bun.
"I'd like a room for two nights," I said quietly, pulling a couple twenties from the backpack.
She rang it up from behind the glass, telling me the total and wishing me a pleasant stay.
Once inside my room I sat down on the springy mattress and pulled my feet up.
This was solitude in its saddest form, I thought. I'd nearly forgotten what if was like to be alone, to be so depressed, drowning in my own thoughts. I obviously needed a good run.
But the world was on the cusp of daylight and I was doomed to be stuck inside this small motel room.
Just then I saw a radio on the bedside table. This would have to serve as a good enough distraction, I figured.
I flipped it on and searched for whatever station would come in clearly.
Of course, the first song that began to play was Frank Sinatra's "I've Got You Under My Skin".
I sighed and rolled my eyes, ripping the power cord out from the wall. This was going to be a very long two days.
