Page 14 of River Wild

You’re almost there. Nearly free.

Stopping outside the door to the bus depot, I pull the brim of my baseball cap down, shading my eyes, needing to cover my face. There are CCTV cameras inside the depot. Cameras that Neil will be able to get access to if he figures out how I left town and tries to find out which bus I left on. Also, I need to hide the red swelling on my cheek. It’d make me a little more memorable if he questioned the ticket cashiers, which is the last thing I want. Unfortunately, there isn’t much that I can do about my split lip.

Through the glass door of the depot, I can see the electronic board detailing all of the upcoming bus departure times.

The next bus leaving is in fifteen minutes, going to a place called Canyon Lake in Texas.

Texas is hot.

I hate the heat. Being fair-skinned means I fry like chicken in the sun.

Neil knows this. So, he would never think that I would go to Texas.

It’s perfect.

Keeping my head down, I take a deep breath, pull open the door, and walk inside the busy depot.

I walk quickly but calmly to an open counter. I purchase a one-way ticket to Canyon Lake, paying in cash.

Taking my ticket, I leave the depot and head for where the bus is waiting to take me far away from here.

Seeing a trash can, I stop.

I stare down at my left hand. My wedding ring.

A barrage of memories runs through my mind.

Our first date. The first time we had sex. Our wedding day.

The first time he hit me. The first time he raped me. The first time he choked me so badly that I passed out.

I pull my wedding ring off and drop it in the trash.

Then, I walk to the bus without a backward glance and climb on it. Trying to act normal, like I’m not running from my abusive husband and using the identification of a dead woman. I show the driver my ticket. He asks to see my ID card.

Swallowing nervously, I get it from my bag and hand it to him. He gives it a quick glance and hands it back to me.

And that’s it.

I’ve done it.

I make my way down the aisle and sit down in a window seat, toward the back, putting my duffel at my feet.

And I let out a deep breath. My heart is racing in my chest.

I did it.

I’m on the bus that’s going to take me to my freedom.

I keep expecting Neil to appear and drag me off the bus.

But he never does appear.

And the door closes on the bus, and it pulls out of the depot.

Taking me to my new life.