Alice tried her best to comfort herself through another panic attack threatening to bubble up to the top of her nervous system.

But now Joseph was turning off of the main road, into a gas station. Why?

“I’m out of iced tea,” he said. “I’m going to pull in here for a minute, alright?”

She rolled her head around a bit, as if she could shake the static out of her brain. “Sure thing. Mind getting me one?”

“I do mind, actually.”

“Jerk.” She stuck her tongue out. But, whatever. This would be a great time for her to finally take a real nap, she thought to herself. Finally get away from all the awful thoughts in her head.

He stepped out of the car, slamming the door behind him. She closed her eyes and drifted off to dreamland…