A Siren's Call

-

ter

de diner just to grab a quick meal and get back on the road. Nothing more. But there I was-still sitting, long after I had devoured the burger and fr

urse from the table and walked over to the counter. I dropped a fifty on the counter. "I'm sorry for taking

f water?" I added, tr

ded me the bottle, his fingers brushing against mine. "I'm reall

uldn't look away. There was something in those blue eyes-soft, yet distant. Something hidden deep i

cern painting his expression. "Is the

ded. "Actually, yes. The last time I visited here,

fteen seconds, maybe-we just stared at each other. His gaze held a mix

iece of paper and handed it to me. "Ju

rove slowly, following his notes. They were oddly precise-he'd even marked landmarks and distance estimat

same. Solid. Q

This was it. If anyone ever came looking for me, the car would be their only clue. Not that I intended to leave one. But I needed it for the journey. Public tra

he world had gone quiet. Only a few cars passed by now and then, and somewhere i

she feel guilt, or would she just feel free? I had always been the stubborn boil in the ass, the c

ht, beautiful and dark. I dropped everything I was holding into the sea-my purse, my scarf, even the bottle

cille's pag

gues. She'd captioned the photo: Family. I scoffed, bitterness rising like bile in my throat. This is her family? I thought

dangling, nothing between me and the drop. I wasn't afraid. There were n

or someone who's better off without you? I thought about Lucille-how we hadn't spoken in years, how the silence had grown until it became a wall. We'd

they were starting to hurt. My eyes were misty, though I wasn't su

whispering through the silence. With each breath, I felt lighter. My pain began to fade. My fear di

ld feel w

this was what I had lo

et

s flying. The wind cradled me, my hair whipped around my face, and the whoosh of

me the

sank beneath the surface. My eyes were still closed. I didn

it, I

dn't want to swim. No one was coming f

ngs and felt myself drift further

, I told m

-a song? A hum? I couldn't tell. It was soft, h

e hands. Strong. Sure. Wrapping around my

ckered in

already?

it? Am