Laura has been married to Bill for 3 years. After dealing with his manipulative antics and narcissistic behaviors and consulting with her lifelong best friend, she’s ready to leave.

Today, Laura has packed all her belongings into her red Mazda Protege and taken off out of town. Think of all she’s been through, and Bill’s knowledge of her want to move south, Laura has decided to deter him from chasing her by heading north. Deciding Indiana should be a safe hideout, Laura has hit the first interstate heading north.

From a young age, Laura has heard voices and constantly feared everyone hates her & is trying to plot against her. Choosing not to tell anyone she was leaving or where she was headed was her safest option. If mom and dad knew, they would help Bill find her and he would continue to control her every move.

About 200 miles north of her hometown in the late hours of night, Laura decides to stop for the night. She pulls into an old motel in North Tennessee. The only place she could use cash to pay for one night and Bill couldn’t track her credit card charges.

Settling in for the night, Laura pulls out her e-reader and picks up reading the last romance novel she had indulged in to quiet her mind. Beginning to doze off to sleep, Laura decides to shower before she goes to sleep. She has to get up early and hit the road if she wants to be ahead of Bill.

Upon getting out of the shower, Laura wanders outside down the alley to the vending machines to grab a drink and snack, forgetting the door to her room open as she left. As she was rounding the corner to the machines, she swore she saw a man, eerily resembling Bill. She closed her eyes, shook her head and did a double take but the man was gone. She figured she was just imagining things, she was exhausted and needed sleep. Laura continued to grab a bag of Doritos and a crisp Dr. Pepper before heading back to her room.

Heading back to the room, Laura feels free and at peace with her decision to leave her life behind and start fresh. She has enough cash saved from her part time waitressing gig to get her through until she can establish her her new identity and career.

With her snacks and a clear mind, Laura climbs into bed to continue reading. She takes one of her Xanax to ensure a good nights rest. She has completely zoned out from the world around her and sleep consumes her in no time.

Groggily waking up, Laura suddenly feels a panic. The kind of panic she only feels when Bill is around. Looking to the corner of the room she realizes the bathroom door is open and hears movement. In sudden panic Laura grabs her e-reader & her keys off the night stand quietly and quickly as possible and heads towards the door. Before she can get outside, Bill has emerged from the bathroom and hustled in front of her in the entryway.

Bill informs Laura she can not possibly think she can make it alone in this world. Laura begrudgingly fights back and knocks all the lamps over, destroying everything in her rage.

With his strong arms Bill swoops up Laura and heads outside where mom and dad are waiting with Laura’s psychiatrist to take her to Pinewater Mental Hospital. She needs help. Bill had only been trying to save her from herself for the past three years, but now realizes he can’t save her alone. He has to stop. Getting her to an inpatient facility is the only way Laura will stop trying to outrun herself.