She sat in her car.
Seat belt fastened, key in the ignition and doors locked, with everything she still owned in life packed and stored in the vehicle. The most valuable items were hidden in the trunk, which made the back seat look like it had just come off the set of Hoarders.
The front passenger seat was empty sans for maps, cellphone, and car charger. Her purse was tucked underneath the driver's seat, but her license and proof of insurance card were under the maps if needed.
An unopened bottle of water occupied the cup holder, with more available on the floor of the passenger side.
All she had to do was start the engine, put the car in gear and drive away.
Away from Minnesota and all her past troubles.
Her old life.
The failed marriage.
But what was keeping her from doing so?
It wasn't my fault, she told herself once more, hands gripping the steering wheel tighter than need be.
They had been married for almost 30 years.
Happy years.
Or so she thought.
How long had the bastard been cheating on me? she wondered. I was so naive. The long hours and late nights at work. Sure, his paychecks reflected a lot of hard work, but still...
Abigail knew the troubles her younger sister Martha had with her husband William Anderson.
The rumors of infidelity. The occasional odd phone call that couldn't be explained away as a mistake.
When they parted company as her last living relatives were about to take off for that new town called Moon Lake, Washington; Martha had assured her everything was all right. Her family was only moving because of William's new job with the local college there.
But Abigail heard the truth after they departed. William had not only gotten caught with a co-ed, but she carried his child too!
She couldn't blame her younger sister for moving out of town, let alone out of state.
I couldn't live with the shame either if I was in her shoes.
How ironic it was now to find herself in a similar position.
Abigail's head ached with the painful memories.
The strange woman who confronted her in the grocery store wanting to know where "their" man was, for he hadn't called her in weeks.
The expense of having to secretly acquire the services of an attorney who in turned hired a private detective that followed her husband until discovering the truth.
The fights, while never physical, hurt just as much as the discovery, let alone the divorce proceedings.
He had always provided for me while I stayed home and kept the house like a wife should, Abigail recalled.
I have no marketable job skills. It was a fight just to get my fair share of our joint assets even before the lawyer found that secret account in another bank. How could I have been so blind?
Abigail felt like crying again, but there were no tears left to shed.
At least we have no children. Wasn't my fault. I certainly wanted to raise babies. I just thought it was God's plan for us not to. How could I know he had a vasectomy back in college before we met to make sure he could 'play' all he wanted to without any consequences?
Then Abigail tried her best to clear her head.
Okay. It may take me a while, but I'm gonna drive to Washington to see my sister and my nephews Nate and Eric. By now she's probably divorced William and is doing her best on her own. They're not expecting me and will be so surprised! They'll welcome me with open arms and Aunt Abigail will at least have a family to take care of at last.
Then she stopped to consider the other possibilities.
If Martha's somehow making it on her own, or stubbornly refuses my help, I'll still stay through Thanksgiving, but then I'll just say my goodbyes and keep on driving. First to the Pacific Coast itself, and then on into the ocean and see what awaits me in the next life.
With that Abigail finally started the car and pulled away from the motel she had been staying at for so long.
What laid ahead she was uncertain of, but she knew for sure that one way or another, she would never be returning to Minnesota, let alone her old life.
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Dear Readers:
While the lady has been foreshadowed in several past episodes, Abigail was only called by name in her previous appearance.
At this point, it will take about a "week" or so for her to reach Washington state, let alone Moon Lake.
The fact that Abigail is totally unaware of what happened to her younger sister and the rest of the Andersons since they left Minnesota will lead to major dramatic events for all involved.
Especially considering Abigail has no knowledge whatsoever about weres, the impending reveal plans or what she'll actually find, let alone discover, when she does reach Moon Lake.
But in the meantime, here are your options for our next episode...