Days and nights flooded together over the next several days. Sleep was my enemy that transported me back to my old life filled of fear and pain. The dreams, I had each night, tore into my wounded soul bringing me farther down into depression. My only light was Ashley. I shared many experiences with her during out short friendship, but I want to know more about her too.

The search for me as grown greatly over these last couple of weeks. Their search span increased through several counties. They where close to me. Closer then they realized. Hiding might not be an option soon. Ashley knows this too. I’ve seen it in her eyes when she looks at me. She scared that they’ll find us before I’m ready.

"Let’s get you out of this house." Ashley sat beside me on the couch. The tv has become my window into the world. Watching the search reports for me, I hope they don’t get any closer.

"It’s not safe out there. They’re looking for me." My eyes never leave the screen.

Ashley sighs beside me. "Please Spence." She whines. "I want to show you something. I promise no one will see us." Pouting, I know I can’t refuse now.

"Okay" Smiling a little, I wonder what she wants to show me.

To my surprise, we didn’t get in her car. Instead, Ashley pulled me towards a small path leading away from our cottage.

The path was narrow but allowed us to be able to walk side by side to our destination. Neither of us talked as we walked, and our shoulders would graze each other ever so often. The silence was comfortable and peaceful. Birds and small creatures could be heard all around us. The sounds of the city where long gone. Wind rustling through the trees, sung to us during the hike. It was beautiful here.

The woods seemed to close in around us the further we went. Sunlight broke through the trees giving light that made everything feel surreal like nothing is or was real. It’s all a fantasy. My fantasy that I control.

In front of us, a bright light shone, revealing an opening in the woods. Closer and closer we got the brighter the light got until we where in it. It took a minute for my eyes to focus on the scenery in front of me. We where standing in a vast open field covered in wildflowers. Different colors painted the landscape for as far as I could see.