I LOVE YOU. I don't know how she did it, but she got me into the car. We drove down and down. The longest ride of my life. It was silent, of course. But if I could, I would run until my legs died out all over again. But I couldn't. She would only find me again. The radio wasn't on, but I didn't need it. My mind played the words of a song I knew. One I heard a very long time ago. "I like the peace In the backseat I don't have to drive I don't have to speak I can watch the countryside And i can fall asleep My family tree's Losing all it's leaves Crashing towards the driver's seat The lightning bolt had enough heat To melt the street beneath your feet Alice died In the night I've been learning to drive My whole life My whole life I've been learning" But then I realized we were there. AARDEKIA ABORTION CLINIC. The words spat in my face. My mother got out of the car, pretending to understand. I sat in the car and she went inside, her heels clicking loudly with excitement. She wanted this so bad; wanted my lesson to be learned. I watched the leaves depart the trees and realized which one let go. A perfectly good green leaf that couldn't hold on forever. "Losing all it's leaves. crashing towards the driver's seat" But it didn't make any sense. I don't know what I'm thinking. Maybe this temporary pregnancy is making me crazy. But I didn't have time to figure it out. "Come on. They're ready for you, Lorraine." My eye blinked a thousand tears.