Annie carefully counted out the bills that once lived under the carpet. $573 dollars and her truck was all she had to her name now. With a shift looming the next day, she set about her tasks. First, she carefully tucked her new-found freedom fund into her pocket and made her way to the door. Without a second look, she locked the door and shut it with vigor. There was no going back now.

Annie headed down the back staircase and knocked on the door of the manager's apartment. As she waiting, she tried to breathe through her mouth to avoid the stench that would surely assault her senses once the door opened.

After a series of clicks, slides and clanks, the door opened to reveal her manager. When Red stood straight, he took up the better part of the doorway with his over six foot frame. The sad part was, Red hadn't stood up straight in over 10 years. The cloud of smoke that followed Red spilled into the hallway, racing to stain the walls and ceiling an even more disgusting shade of brown.

"What do you want now, Annie?"

"I wanted to know how much we owe in rent to pay off the rest of the month."

"Why? Whereya goin' off to? I don't 'spose they finally hauled his sorry ass off to jail did they?"

"Apparently, he has already left and has taken everything with him."

"I told you that son of a bitch was gonna screw you! I 'spose its better that than finding he beat your ass to death up there. Tell you what, you pay to replace that broken mirror and we'll call it even."

Annie stood in shock. Surely Trent didn't pay off the rest of the month, if anything they owed for at least three!

"Well don't just stand there girl! Give an old man a hug and get the hell out of here. I don't want to see you around these parts again, unless it is to bring me some of your famous cookies. Got that?"

It took everything Annie had not to cry. She vowed to pay back every penny, even if it killed her. Annie hugged the saint disguised as an old decrepit man and practically ran out of the building, presumably, for the last time.





Annie inspected herself in the fitting room mirror. Surely there was a pair of jeans that would fit her. One would assume that with the stress Annie was under and all the running she did would leave her figure trim and toned. In fact, it did just the opposite. Sure she had a slight waist, but there was the issue of the small breasts and lumpy sides she had to contend with. She was quite a beautiful woman just she didn't see it. The scars Trent left on her mind were far more lethal to her self esteem than the scars that marked her skin. Slowly she turned her arm over to inspect the remnants of the scabs that were still evident on her elbow. She chuckled to herself as she replayed that night in her head.

She had made green beans with dinner instead of peas; he had specifically requested peas except they were out and she didn't have enough change in her truck to buy some. Trent had come home drunk as usual and had gotten physical with her. She was doing well deflecting his punches until she had tripped over her own feet and fell back into the wall mirror. Fortunately for her, Trent never was one for blood and immediately passed out cold. He always was such a wuss.

She shook the memory out of her head and resigned to getting a pair of jeans that were a little too snug in the waist. Intending to up her mileage, she figured in another week she would be able to button them without sucking in her stomach. Next she pulled a new tank top over her frame. She blushed at the thought of being in public in such a revealing shirt. Determined for change, she resolved to buying it, even if it was just because she could.

After a few hours of shopping, she had narrowed down her purchases and made her way to the front of the store. She cringed when the total flashed on the register before her. $300 dollars and she still had to replace the full length mirror. With great reluctance, she handed over the cash and walked her purchases to the truck. "At least I have a full tank of gas", Annie mused.

Next was the hardware store. Because it was such a small town with little stock, she had to order the mirror to replace the one her elbow broke. She handed over the cash for the mirror, assuming she may not have it when it finally came in.

Annie's last stop was the bank. It was high time she had her own checking account. Trent had always insisted on using his, presumably so Annie wouldn't have any access to the money. She carefully chose her new bank, the one that always had lights on and had an ATM. At least then she would save some money when taking out her own money. It wasn't as if she had a ton of choice with only two banks in town, but it was either that, or drive to Camelot which was a 20 minute trip one way.

Satisfied with herself and the progress she was making with her newfound freedom she headed to the Moonbeam for some dinner.

By the time Annie had finished her paperwork and showered, the fog had lifted and the sun was burning down on her little corner of the world. The day had turned out to be filled with the kind of heat that made you sweat just looking outside. Her dark hair was still wet from her quick shower so it helped keep her cool as she climbed inside her sweltering, beat up truck. Everyone teased Annie about the color of that truck, a cross between pond scum and sea foam, but it didn't matter because it was her truck; paid for with her own sweat and tears.

She turned left out of the driveway and started the short drive through town to her tiny apartment. Often she would fantasize about living in the city where you could feel the pulse of the life around you as walked down the crowded sidewalks. No matter how much she fantasized about it, she knew this little town was where her heart would always be. Her mouth watered as she drove past The Moonbeam, the smell of pancakes and bacon riding the hot breeze coming through her open windows. It was pointless to turn on the air conditioner for such a short drive and even if she did, it didn't work very well anyway.

She pulled her truck into her spot in front of the old brick building she called home, heaved a heavy sigh and stepped into the sunshine. It was a shame such a beautiful day would be ruined. Annie sighed again and made her way to the front door of the building. Up the stairs and to the left was where you could find her door. She was always careful when she walked into the building. She didn't know her neighbors well, but she was well aware of the tempers and anger her thin walls barely held back.

Annie was well aware of the anger that would surely soon fill her own apartment. Her boyfriend wasn't keen on her being late. Slowly, she opened the door, bracing herself for the tirade that was sure to come.

She looked around the apartment and all she saw was a pile of her clothes surrounded by the stains her hand me down furniture once hid. Without warning, Annie vomited onto the floor.

Confused and scared, Annie wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry, so she just sat and let her body shake from the laughter and sobs colliding in her throat. When she all but laughed herself out, she stood and silently walked to the kitchen. Thankfully he had left a bucket and one lone dirty rag. She dutifully started cleaning up herbreakfast and shuffled over to fold the pile of clothes. She picked up a shirt and gasped in horror. It was slashed at least three times, rendering it completely and utterly unwearable. Frantically, she pawed through the pile, praying she was not right. Everything was ruined, even down to the last pair of underwear. Annie buried her face in the last of her worldly possessions and cried bitter tears of anger and resentment. All she had was quite literally, the clothing on her back.

She shot to her feet as if someone had kicked her square in the ass. She ran down the hall and grabbed at the edge of the carpet like a rabid animal. Under her breath she prayed. She prayed harder than she had ever prayed before; and then she saw it. There sat a tattered and worn brown envelope just as she had left it. She clutched it to her chest until her knuckles blanched and sobbed. She slowly rocked herself back and forth amongst the dust bunnies and spiders. The little flicker of hope that was always there grew a little brighter and a hint of a smile crossed her lips.

The rhythm of her Nikes slapping the pavement countered the pace of her breathing. While it didn't quite match completely, it was comforting for the mistmatched tempos mimicked her mood. There had been a lot going on in Annie's life; everything except the one thing she wanted. Slowly she pushed all the thoughts out of her mind and focused on the beat pulsating in her ears and the burn in her calves. She was one mile in with two still waiting to be traveled; a daunting task when ten laps around the station make one mile.

It was a cool morning, unusual for this time of year. There was a fog that had settled into the valley, pressing her into the pavement and making her eyelids heavy. Her bunk was warm and strangely comfortable this morning, a stark contrast to the norm which made it more difficult to lace up her shoes. Today there was more than the fog weighing her down. There was the mountain of paperwork to finish and the training to organize, not to mention the face-off that was looming at home.

Annie's thoughts hopped around for a bit and finally settled in to the lyrics. Her lips moved ever so slightly as she sang along in her head. She settled into the rhythm of the run as she made her way around the corner.

"Ooof!"

The sound escaped her lungs along with the last of her breath as she ran full force into James.

"What the hell, James!?" She spat as she rolled on to her back in the cool grass. She wasn't sure what she was so angry about, the interruption or that it happened to be James.

"I'm sorry, I thought you would be done by now."

James instinctively stared at the ground. He never could make eye contact with Annie and she never could figure out why.

Annie slowly got to her feet, checked her watch and cursed when she realized she was late. Now there really would be hell to pay.

"It's alright James. I didn't mean to swear at you. I guess I was really into my run today." She emphasized her words with a stretch as she peeled herself off the dewy grass.

"Forget about it. I should have been watching where I was going."

There was an awkward silence as the two stood there, both frantically trying to think of something to say.

"Well, I'd better get showered. I have a never-ending pile of forms calling my name and I have to get home before..."

Annie stopped herself before she over-shared and silently chastized herself for it.

"Before what?" James was curious now.

"Uh, before, my, uh, appointment." It was getting easier to lie on the spot and it scared her.

She bid James a good day and trotted inside to hit the shower. She would need the moment alone to plan out her excuse. After all, she was starting to run out.