Prologue

The sun had barely risen over the horizon when Madison rose from her bed and tiptoed into the kitchen, careful not to step on the loose floorboard that groaned in protest every time the slightest pressure was placed upon it. She poured herself a glass of orange juice in the early morning light and sat down at the kitchen table, staring into the orange liquid, pondering if what she had planned was as rational and as possible as she had first thought.

Before she had time to finish her juice her watch beeped the hour, reminding her that time was running out. She sighed and gulped down the rest of the juice, placing the cup in the sink with a light thud. She cringed as the noise echoed throughout the small kitchen. She prayed she had not stirred her father and tiptoed back to her room, silently cursing as the loose floorboard creaked as she placed her foot upon it. Reaching her room, she picked up the bag she had packed the night before and took one last look at her now barren room. She nodded, as if acknowledging it one last time, and closed the door behind her. She slipped into her shoes and grabbed her jacket from the hallway closet. She stepped outside just as her father’s alarm clock went off, signaling the beginning of a long workday for her father. He was a respected lawyer and worked long hours to provide for himself the life he had always wanted. She gasped and ran down the steps, tripping over a tennis ball in the process. "Damn dog…" she muttered, knowing that she would come to miss the mutt that had become her best friend in the past year.

Once she was a safe distance away she pulled on her jacket, wishing that she had brought her winter coat instead. Her breaths came out in puffs and she marveled over how cold it was considering it was late April. Madison fingered the money in her pocket and began walking faster. She did not want to miss the seven A.M. bus or she would be stuck there for another two hours while her father discovered her absence. She ignored the people who passed by, not wanting to attract attention as she walked down the sidewalk. The sun was now up in full force, and it painted the sky with vibrant reds and oranges. She smiled one of her rare smiles then continued to make her way to the bus station. She watched the bus stop and open its doors. She watched as people climbed aboard. It was like everything was in slow motion and she was not really there. When the last passenger had boarded she slowly rose from her seat and grabbed her bag. She walked over to the bus and climbed aboard. She handed over her ticket and scanned the bus for an empty seat. The bus was not crowded and she easily found one and sat down.

Madison had no idea where she was headed and she didn’t really care. All she knew was that she needed to leave the past behind, she needed to get away from him, and that’s all she could think about as the bus slowly left the curb and departed from her hometown.

Chapter One
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