-25-

[The Trail]

SIERRA

The next day, I was sitting at my writing desk, staring at a blank sheet of paper. I was damn near frustrated and angry at my lack of words. I'd been sitting there for about an hour. Still, I couldn't think of what to say or how to begin the letter. "How hard is it to string a few words together?" I banged my hand on the desk and winced with regret. "Ow!"

"Okay, Sierra. Calm down. Take a deep breath..." I inhaled deeply and held my breath for another second. "... and exhale." As I did. All I needed were a few words. A few words to explain why I was writing this letter rather than addressing this matter face-to-face. And why I chose to leave with a man I hardly knew.

Another few minutes went by and the words still refused to come. My brain was hurting from overthinking it, and I was certain my eyes would pop from their sockets soon enough after staring at the paper for so long. But I refused to sit there and force words out of my head. They should come naturally,