-----
Sarah was immensely happy the next few weeks. She had somewhat hoped that her happiness would rub off on her surroundings, but it didn't. In fact, the happier she was, the more she realized that she hated everything to do with Life as it Was.
One day, she simply decided it was time. Since the last time that she had seen Jareth, she had lived her life almost through the eyes of an observer. She was thoroughly disenchanted with...everything. From her favorite corner store to world politics, she just didn't give a damn anymore. Sarah supposed that that was the price for being exposed to magic and dreams--ceasing to care about reality. Though 'reality' was a rather relative term, since the Underground was just as real.
However, before she left everything, she had an impulsive desire to see the world. And while she was sure that Jareth would have taken her where she wanted her to go, or somehow provided her the means to do so, she wanted to do this last thing on her own. The problem was, she didn't have enough money.
Then a brilliant idea occurred to her. Probably illegal, but brilliant. But Sarah found that she didn't care. Nothing in this world mattered anymore. The idea occurred to her that she had indeed finally gone mad. Not insane, but mad in the old sense, the way people went mad in the old stories that she had read. Once exposed to something otherworldly, they simply didn't care for anything of this world, or about anything in this world. What with her recent disregard for everything, Sarah was sure that she was there. This world couldn't give her anything, not even any repercussions.
The next day, she went out and bought a thirty thousand dollar car, setting up the financing with the dealership. She then obtained a loan from a bank for thirty thousand dollars, listing the car as collateral. Sometime in the future, the bank and the dealership were going to come knocking on her door, wanting their money back. It wouldn't be there, and neither would she. There would only be the one car--and they could fight over who got to collect that. Sarah actually began laughing at the thought. Such deception and carelessness--Jareth would probably be proud of her.
Sarah also decided that she needed new clothes. She went shopping, buying herself an entire new wardrobe of only extremes. She bought T-shirts and jeans, and formal gowns, and nothing else. Sarah supposed that Jareth would get her any clothes that she needed, but she wanted to have some things of her own. She needed the practical and the extravagant. And she rather had fun picking out the extravagant. From sleek modern numbers cut just under the knees, to elegant beaded, sequined gowns with yards of flowing skirts that she might have looked overdressed at a costume party in, she bought them. (Though Sarah didn't think she would honestly have a problem being overdressed while around Jareth.) Then she bought new luxurious pajamas, from one-hundred percent silk gowns and robes to matching tops and bottoms made of velvet. She bought expensive lingerie to thick warm socks. And shoes, of course, to go with the dresses.
After several days of these shopping sprees, Sarah transferred the rest of her money into travelers' checks. She also got her passport in order. Back at her apartment, she stacked her new things in their boxes in the center of the living room. In the days that followed, she quit her job and began going through her other things.
Her family was eventually going to realize that something had happened to her. Eventually. Strangely, she didn't feel at all regretful. The only one she was really sad about leaving was Toby, and he would know at least the truth. Upon vacillating on whether to leave her things or clean them out, she decided to leave them. An empty apartment would be much more mysterious and odd than a full apartment, and she intended to leave with as little mystery as possible. She would go on vacation, and simply never come back.
Ever since her little backyard bonfire, she hadn't collected very many material possessions. She left everything as it was, except for the clothes and toiletries that went into her suitcase. Her linens and the rest of her clothes still sat in the closet. Her pots and pans and dishes were left in the kitchen. The few knickknacks that she had sat in their places by the books on the shelves. Pictures were still on the walls and rugs on the floors.
However, she did go through her personal things. Anything which she had written, she destroyed. All financial documents were also thrown out. She closed out all her accounts and then burned all her receipts.
-----
Sarah went to her parents house, under the pretense of telling everyone of her long vacation and bidding them a temporary farewell. Her father and stepmother seemed pleased but uninterested. They gave her the usual pleasantries, but didn't have much time to talk.
However, before she left that night, she pulled Toby to the side and gave him a hug.
"You," she said, "I'm going to miss the most."
He looked back at her and smiled. "You'll bring me back a souvenir, right?"
Sarah held him at arms length. "No, I don't think I will be."
His face fell. "Why not?"
"Toby, do you remember the talk we had in the hospital?"
He nodded.
Sarah hugged him once more, and said softly, "This is one trip I don't plan to return from." After a moment, she let him go. She saw understanding in his eyes. "And you remember what else I said?"
"Yes."
"You promise?"
"Yes."
"Good." Sarah hugged him once more, then stood up.
"Don't forget me?" he asked.
She smiled. "Never."
Then she stood up, and called into the living room, "I'm leaving!"
"Have a good time!" and "Goodbye!" answered her, but she scarcely heard them or cared.
-----
The next day, Sarah was on a plane. She planned to hit the cultural capitals of the world. She wasn't sure how far she would get, but she was going to go until her money ran out.
On a vacation that lasted for weeks, she hit major cities, looking at the museums and landmarks, and then venturing out into the countryside, getting a taste of the land itself.
France, Italy, Greece, Egypt, England, and so many more...
