To be continued…

Hannah pedaled her bike up the small hill, her breathing hard and her legs aching. “You can do this Nahnah.” Her father’s words rang through her mind. Five more miles to her destination, and she could call this leg of her journey the halfway mark. 

Her aunt’s voice also echoed through her mind. “You crazy, girl? Why would you give up everything?” Dad’s sister’s house was her final destination. Hannah could have easily gotten on a plane and been in Jacksonville in a matter of hours. Torn between the need to be in Aunt Belinda’s embrace again and fulfilling Dad’s life-long wish, she opted to ride. It was a little thing she could do for her father. And so Belinda flew back to Florida to await Hannah’s arrival.

Once she reached the summit, she parked her bike under a tree at the side of road. She took a long drink of her warm water before pulling a granola bar from her backpack. Wiping the sweat from her brow, she now wished she’d planned her trip during the spring months. But with Dad’s memorial service only a few weeks ago, she could have either waited until next spring or braved the summer weather. It was like her dad was pressing her to go now and stop moping around her tiny apartment which she’d shared with him until she had no choice but to put him in hospice.

Hannah pulled her hat off, letting the air cool her head. A few clouds drifted overhead, bringing with it a bit of relief. Normally, she’d pray for clear skies, but today a light shower would be nice. Her phone pinged an incoming text. She pulled it from her back pocket and checked to see who it was, although, she already knew.

Hey girl, you doing okay?

Hannah rolled her eyes. She’d promised her aunt to check in with her at the end of the day. Judging by the sun’s position, she still had several more hours. She’d already put a tracking app on her phone so Aunt Belinda texted her every time Hannah stopped to eat or rest or use the restroom. Now if Hannah had been in the same place for more than an hour, her aunt might have cause for concern.

I’m fine. Hannah finally typed in after taking another long drink and polishing off her snack.

That’s good. Where are you stopping for the night?

Miracle, Tx. I’ll be staying at the inn there.

Call me when you get settled.

Hannah sent a heart emoji. It wasn’t that she didn’t adore her aunt, it’s just that with her father gone, Belinda was more than annoying with her concern. She wished her aunt would just let her take this journey with her dad alone. 

Taking one last gulp, Hannah readjusted her backpack over her shoulders and kicked the stand up on her bike. The aroma of fresh cut hay filled the air, so different than the smells of the city. Without a plan, Hannah could well imagine herself settling down in a rural town like this. But first, Dad’s journey.

Hannah started off again, coasting down the slight hill. Always able to balance since she was a little girl, she threw her hands in the air and let the breeze pass through her fingers. 

From her peripheral, she spotted another biker entering the road. Unable to steer away from him, her front tire caught his, and they both went end over end.

Well, now that you’ve read the first chapter of Episode 2, what do you think? (Remember, this is only the first draft!)