New York City
The bus station was unusually quiet when I approached the ticket window nervously clutching my tattered backpack with one hand and my last $50 with the other. "How far can I get for under $50?" I asked the person at the window.
"I can get you to Port Charles, its upstate by Rochester, the ticket will be $40, and the bus leaves in 20 minutes," said the ticket salesperson in a tired voice. I took the ticket quickly and scanned the station for the most crowded place to sit, just in case. 15 minutes later I heard a loud buzzing noise which startled me and I realized that I must have dozed off.
"Would all passengers for bus #1313 from NYC station to Port Charles, NY by way of Albany, Buffalo, and Rochester please load at gate #6." I stood up, adjusted the straps of my backpack, and prepared to step onto the bus hopefully to find some of the answers I was looking for. The bus ride was long and slow and I spent the time worrying that he would be able to somehow follow me to Port Charles too, as he had everywhere else I had gone, even Minnesota. The rest of the time I spent re-rereading the letter from my father, my only link to the man I had never really known.

Dear Autumn,

If you are reading this it means that I am no longer alive. I loved you alot NEVER forget that. I could no longer handle your mother's drug problem. I would have taken you out of the house if I could have, but I wasn't able to, and now I want you to know why.
I was already married when I met your mother, and I cheated on my wife with your mother. I am sorry honey that nobody ever told you the truth before, I am sure that your mother has by now filled your head with lies about why I left and haven't talked to you since. My wife took me back and we had a beautiful daughter together. I told her about you and we tried to look for you but you had already moved out of state and we could not find any information. I am sorry again and in my will I left instructions for some money to be left for you in a safe deposit box until you turn 18. Please know I love you and I hope someday you can find your half-sister. Enclosed is a picture of her at age 7.

Love Your Father,

RB

Tears flowed down my face as I read my father's words. He wanted me after all, someone wanted me, and now he too was dead, well he had been for a long time, since my mom hadn't given me the letter until I was 15 and she was dying herself, and the letter was written when I was 8 years old. I wondered where my half sister was now. I hadn't been able to find her in California or anywhere out west, but I had found out that she might be living here out east. Now if I could just find her I thought as I drifted off to sleep for the rest of the bus ride. Several hours later the bus came to a stop just outside the small town of Port Charles, NY and I walked slowly along the docks to a restaurant named Kelly's. Little did I know my life was about to change.