Haley couldn't believe it. She had just seen him days before. He was strong, beautiful…healthy. She had kissed him and touched his warm body. And with one phone call everything had changed. Her husband was on an operating table fighting for his life. He could be dying…and it was all her fault.

She had called her parents to tell them. She had been so upset she could hardly speak. She was hysterical, racked with guilt that she was somehow to blame. They assured her, as moms and dads are supposed to, that it wasn't her fault. But Haley begged to differ.

What if she had just gone home with him when he drove down to the show? If she had been in Tree Hill, he never would have been in that stupid race car at that stupid track in the first place. Or what if she had let him stay and join her on the tour? Then he would have been laughing with the band and eating crappy food before a concert instead of crashing into a concrete wall at 160 miles per hour. Or what if she hadn't gotten on that damned bus in the first place? Nathan would be okay. He'd be alive.

She checked her watch. It was late. She was on her way back to North Carolina. If there was any question before about where she needed to be, there were none anymore. Haley Scott was headed back to where she belonged…right by her husband's side.

Impatiently she tapped her foot. It was beginning to rain again. She was at some hole in the wall bus station in some nameless, godforsaken town. The normal protocol would be for big rock stars to cross the country in private jets…or at least first class of a decent commercial airline. But there hadn't been any flights or trains headed towards Tree Hill in a timely fashion. All were scheduled hours away for "next day" service. It was reasonable but to a frightened young wife fearing for her husband's well being, it simply didn't cut it. The buses ran continuously so she would bus hop from one city to another nonstop until she was at Nathan's bedside. She hadn't counted on the latest delay.

"Bus leaves in one hour, folks! One hour!" yelled the driver.

Haley cursed. It was supposed to have pulled out an hour and a half before. Dammitt!

Clutching her bag, she peered inside the station. There was a diner there. She didn't have much of an appetite but the dizzy feeling in her head and the rumbling in her stomach suggested she might want to get some food in her belly. Sighing, she went inside and plopped down at a table. Grabbing a sticky menu, she searched for something edible.

"Can I get you something to drink, sugar?" the waitress asked.

Her bouffant red updo deserved its own zip code and Haley had never seen someone where so much make up. She was skinny as a rail and popped a wad of gum like there was no tomorrow. But she seemed nice enough.

"Iced tea, please, if it's sweet and I'll have a chicken salad sandwich on rye if you have it."

"We're out of chicken salad, honey."

"Tuna?"

"Sorry."

"Peanut butter and jelly?"

"No can do."

Haley rolled her eyes.

"Ma'am, what do you have?"

"Turkey or ham…"

Haley's heart jumped. That phrase. That familiar phrase…

"Excuse me?"

"Turkey or ham, honey. What's it gonna be?"

"Um…turkey", she stuttered.

Putting the menu back in its place, she nervously looked around, keeping one eye on the bus. The diner was virtually empty except for one other patron and a few of the workers. Then she saw her. A whisp of blonde hair hurrying to the back. Haley turned her neck so hard she felt like she had whiplash. That girl. She looked so familiar.

"You okay, kiddo?" the waitress returned.

"Huh? Oh…yeah, I'm fine. Sorry. It's uh, just been a long night or day or few days, I guess."

"I hear you. Your sandwich is coming right up."

"Thanks", Haley nodded, again beginning to feel ill. "Um, do you have a restroom?"

"Sure. Over yonder on the left."

Securing her belongings Haley stood and followed the simple directions. Turning on the faucet, she splashed her face with cold water. It felt good. She leaned over as far as she could underneath the sink. When she stood looking for a paper towel, she screamed.

There was a woman behind her. Haley hadn't seen or heard her walk in. She just happened to be there like as if she appeared by magic.

"Hi", Haley managed to stammer.

The girl, an employee, smiled and handed her something to wipe her hands and face.

"Didn't mean to scare you. I forgot to fill the dispenser earlier."

Haley nodded and let the woman do her business, although she couldn't help but stare. Something was so recognizable. Her blonde hair…her eyes…

"Sorry", Haley apologized as she accidentally bumped into her.

The girl smiled sweetly.

"I'm sorry, Miss. Do I have something hanging out of my nose?"

"Excuse me?"

"You just keep staring…"

"I'm so sorry", Haley said. "I didn't mean to be rude. I…I, I just…I feel like I've seen you somewhere before, that's all."

The girl leaned in to wash her own hands.

"I get that a lot. Who knows? We probably have seen each other before.."

The girl went to dry and Haley gasped. There was a tattoo on her exposed lower back. No pictures or symbols…just words. It said Fate Is What We Make

Haley clumsily dropped her bag.

"Oh my God…"

"You sure you're okay, ma'am?"

"I…I'm fine."

"You sure? You looked…troubled."

"No, I…"

"Let me guess, it's a man, right? Men are always trouble. Trust me, I know. Did your boyfriend do something?"

"I…I don't have a boyfriend."

The girl nodded.

"Or maybe it was your husband?"

"I…"

"I see a lot of pain in your eyes. You look scared, confused. Maybe you made a mistake. Maybe you made decisions you're not proud of. Maybe you're looking for a take back now."

"What?"

"It's okay, Haley."

Haley was beginning to freak.

"How…how'd you know my name?"

The girl grinned before pointing downward.

"It's on your luggage."

"Oh…"

"Like I was saying…it's gonna be okay. It's not too late. If you go to him, talk to him, tell him how you feel and listen to what he has to say, it will be alright. He'll understand. He will forgive you. You can begin to forgive each other."

"Look…"

"Don't let anything come between you. Don't give up or give in or walk away. He's your soul mate, Haley."

Haley began to tremble. Then she got mad. What the hell was going on?

"Who the hell are you?"

The girl shrugged.

"Doesn't matter. It's not important now. I'm just a small town girl working for pennies at a run down old bus stop. You may think I look familiar but I don't. Trust me, we've never met but uh…if you don't make things right…you might see me again in about six or seven years", she winked.

Haley, mouth open, was paralyzed.

"Oh my…"

"You have a good night", the girl said as she turned to leave.

She used her hand to flip back her hair. In the process, it revealed a tattered nametag but the print was blatantly clear to Haley. In faded print she could make out five letters…Megan.