The first couple of months were the hardest. Neither of them had any life experience. They had to start out living out of the cheap hotel, paying weekly, because they couldn't come up with a security deposit for a place of their own. They had to ride the bus everywhere because there was no reliable car. They had to take the greyhound down to Nevada, and they had no way of saving up enough money to buy a car for themselves. Cheyenne had no idea how to cook anything. Everything turned out black, and there was no money to order in. It made her feel like a disappointment. Van had spent his whole life being the jokester and had a hard time adjusting to being the man of the household. They no longer could get by with just looks and popularity. Tears became the regular lullaby for the couple as they laid down their heads for the night.
It took some time and effort, but Van was finally able to find a job in a casino dealing cards. Cheyenne began working as a waitress in a 50's restaurant on the outskirts of town. They had managed scrounge save enough money to afford to rent a two bedroom apartment a couple towns over where rent wasn't so high. In the second bedroom, they had set up a hand-me-down crib and rocking chair from St. Vincent de Paul. Cheyenne came home from a busy shift, dead on her feet, and decided it was time to contact home for the first time since she had left.
Eight months had passed. Cheyenne came home exhausted from a busy day at work. Her feet were aching. Her ankles were swollen. It took all she could do to make it through the work shift now-a-days. However, she took a look around at what they had barely managed to accomplish and decided it was time to contact home for the first time since she had left.
Dear mom:
I know you must have been worried, but I wanted to make sure I had things in order before I contacted you again. I wanted to be able to tell you that things were going to be okay. The night I had left, I went and told Van about the pregnancy. We're married now, Mom. He takes good care of me, and although he might not be the most intelligent person in the world, he does the very best he can. We are living in Nevada. The baby is almost due! We are so excited, Mom. I think about you and the family a lot. I hope everything turned out okay with you and dad, but it would be okay if it didn't. I know you are strong enough to handle that. Tell everyone I said 'hello' and that I'm doing ok. I'll let you know when the baby comes. Oh, and Mom, I just wanted to say that I'm proud of you, and that me leaving was not your fault. It was something I had to do for myself.
Love always,
Cheyenne