Alex

I told myself I didn't even bother looking around.

I just walked to the counter.

Hello, welcome to our beautiful home state.

She said, sure, sure, I have to.

I was tired and not from here.

Where are you headed?

She asked

pants as I said, feeling exacerbated, still weren't, where are you headed from she inquired, lying didn't change anything, last town doesn't matter, I've been driving for about ten hours though, yes you've got the bit to go still she said, or probably some other response still fit everything I was saying, I did not inquire about a bathroom but as I headed to the door I was informed to travel on to the next exit and I find a gas station there with one, not a single thing was different about this Missouri gas station, the parking lot was pretty vacant just like the first three, the same cars, the same spaces, I'd been driving for at least ten hours,

Other people had to have passed through.

I pulled up to the pump closest to the door.

For the first time today, I didn't really need to use the bathroom.

But I really wanted to splash cold water on my face, try to calm myself down.

I made my way to the bathroom with reluctancy.

The first thing I noticed when I got into the bathroom was that it was occupied.

It was just a room with a toilet and a sink.

There was girl number four, standing in front of the sink.

I didn't try to turn and leave this time, and I didn't try to speak right away either.

I observed her.

She was staring at her own eyes in the reflection, and she was crying, just like the others.

I needed to try and break the cycle.