Things on Annalesa's end, however, were quite different.

Annalesa woke up to the whistle of the train and the conductor's shout.

"Belltown Station! Next stop! Belltown!"

She quickly checked to make sure her bundle was still beside her and ran a hand through her hair. Not the best I've ever looked, I'm quite sure, but it will have to do. Suddenly a voice beside her startled her.

"Miss MacGaren, what a joy to see you unhurt and home at last."

She whirled around and drew in a sharp breath. Standing in front of her was Sean Collins, the man she was expected to marry. Not anymore I'm not. She reminded herself. All of those plans went up in smoke when the town did. Sean wasn't a bad person, just not the type of man Annalesa wanted. He was content to stay forever in their small village outside tiny Belltown, while she wanted more...more excitement, more people, and more freedom. In their tiny village, the marriage had been expected practically since the two were born. He was the minister's son, she the banker's daughter. Gathering her courage, she finally spoke coolly and politely.

"Mr. Collins, how nice to see you. You are well, I trust?"

"Quite well. I must say, it is a surprise to find you here. We quite believed you had suffered the same fate as your father and brother...please accept my sincerest condolences on your loss. But tell me, how is it that you happened to survive without anyone realizing it?"

"That, sir, is not a matter I wish to discuss. Now if you will excuse me, I believe this is my stop." She moved to pass him but he put a restraining hand on her arm and offered the other as support.

"Please...allow me. You see, I also am on my way home."

Grudgingly she accepted his hand and together they dismounted from the train and headed towards the exit of the station. Wordlessly they began the two-mile walk to Oakeville, Sean's home and Annalesa's past. When they were halfway there, Sean spoke.

"You seem to have lost the art of conversation I once so enjoyed. Perhaps if you will allow, I may ask you something?"

"Yes, Mr. Collins, what?"

"Please...Sean. You always used to call me that. Why did you not cable to tell us you were safe?"

"I beg you, please do not question me in regard to that matter Sean. I do not wish to speak of it. And do not assume I am staying here...I have simply come to collect what is mine and return to my new home." Annalesa grimaced. Had she always spoken so...perfectly? She had become accustomed to the newsies' way with words but found her defenses rising and her language becoming more and more proper as she talked with Sean.

Sean stopped walking. "You mean to leave again? How long will you stay?"

"Overnight, I expect. I shall leave tomorrow afternoon." Annalesa had not planned on leaving so soon, but the more she thought about it the more she realized that she no longer wanted to be in Oakeville. There was nothing tying her to it anymore except a few belongings in her house and it would be easy to retrieve those. Also, she was beginning to miss New York and the people there more than she was willing to admit. Ignoring the look of shock and...was it hurt?...on Sean's face, Annalesa began walking again.

"Wait!" Annalesa felt Sean's hand on her shoulder and turned to face him. "Please...you can't go again so soon. The town...it's so different now. I need you to stay." Sean's honest words shocked Annalesa. Never had he displayed any type of emotion towards her except anger and cool indifference. But even this could not change her mind.

"I'm so sorry Sean, but I have a new life now. I came back to get some things from my house and then I will go back. I'm sorry." She turned and resolutely marched towards the town she could just barely see on the horizon. Sean followed her from a distance and she did not look back at him.

When she finally reached town, she thought perhaps it might have been better if she'd never come. The burnt buildings had mostly been repaired, but they didn't look the same and every now and then Annalesa could see a charred board underneath a porch or lying near a fence. However it wasn't so much the appearance of the town that bothered her, but the inhabitants. Those who were left surrounded her and nearly smothered her with hugs and kind words, but they all made her feel guilty for having left and for planning to do so again.

Annalesa was able to deal with the people she saw, but what she had the hardest time dealing with was the people she didn't see. She kept looking over her shoulder or past the person she was talking to, expecting to see someone who was never there. The afternoon was a blur of familiar faces and well-meant words, but all Annalesa wanted was to go home. Finally she got the chance. Excusing herself from the group she was talking to, she walked over to Father Collins, Sean's father.

"Excuse me, Father?"

"Yes child, what can I do for you?"

"I would very much like to go to my house now, I am very tired. I was wondering if I could borrow one of your horses?" The whole night Father Collins had stood to the side, watching Annalesa quietly. He had decided that she would be just fine...no need to worry about her.

"Of course you may, my dear. However, are you sure you wouldn't prefer my carriage?"

"No, thank you, that is very kind. But I have not ridden a horse in a very long time and would very much like to."

"My horse Katie is right outside. Take her and you can return her in the morning on your way to the train."

"Thank you so much Father. And...thank you for understanding." Annalesa knew then that Father Collins understood that she had to go and hoped he understood how much that meant to her. Impulsively she hugged the kind man. "Good night."

The Father nodded and Annalesa crept out the door before anyone could say anything. She found the minister's chestnut horse and swung up onto it, her bundle secured by a rope around her shoulders. The townspeople had initially gawked at her outfit, for she was still wearing newsie gear, but she had passed it off as a stroke of hard luck. At the moment she was glad for the pants as opposed to the full skirt she would normally be wearing. Riding a horse sidesaddle had never been much fun and now Annalesa was glad to be able to ride like all the men. She prodded the horse and they took off in the direction of Annalesa's house. Her family had built the house about a half a mile away from the town so that they would have an easy time getting there but would not be too close to the town.

The wind in her hair felt wonderful and Annalesa threw her head back and her arms out and just rode with her eyes closed for a few moments. She had missed the night air of the country. When Annalesa opened her eyes she could see the silhouette of her house black against the dark blue sky. She slowed the horse to a trot and approached slowly. A thousand different emotions hit Annalesa like a strong wind and she unconsciously stiffened. When she reached the house she first put Katie up in the barn, noticing that all of her family's animals were gone, probably to neighbors. Then she walked to the house.

Annalesa lit every lamp in the house and wandered through it slowly. Tears rolled down her cheeks unnoticed and at last Annalesa found herself in her own bedroom. She smoothed the covers on the bed and sat down. There she finally cried the tears that she had held back for weeks and once she was done, fell asleep, the lights still blazing.