Chapter 21: Stop

The truck came to a stop after over an hour of driving, and Lydia saw the name of the bank that looked so familiar.

"Is this the one?" the middle-aged truck driver who had introduced himself to Lydia as Benard Woods asked.

Lydia told him she needed his help when she stopped him on the road after walking for under thirty minutes. When he asked where she was coming from and going, she told him she was running away from her abusive husband and was going to the bank to get the money she needed to run away. At first, she wanted to lie, but she decided against it. Benard then told her to enter the car, promising to drop her where she needed to go before continuing his journey.

On the drive, he told her about his family, having grown up in an abusive household where his father would constantly beat his mother before she finally stood up to him. Lydia's case wasn't the same. She wasn't running away because her abuse was as severe as the one Benard's mom experienced; it wasn't close, but she