EXTRACT FOR
The Long Road To Nowhere
(Marcos Hernandez)

	His body was tired, his limbs were weak. He was so tired, his feet were dragging against the ground, his legs were barely holding him up. He got to his cabin, flinging the door shut behind him. As he headed to his bed, which was the only thing he wanted in the world right now. He took off his clothes and boots, leaving a trail of clothing behind him. The only thing that remained on his body were a pair of boxers. He practically fell into bed, closed his eyes, and instantly drifted off to sleep.

He was so tired, he didn't even dream. And after what seemed like a second, the ring of the phone on his nightstand cut through the silence like a knife. He laid there in bed, his face berried in his pillow, for a minute. Acting like he was asleep, hoping the person on the other side would get the hint and go away so he can actually sleep. After a while, it seemed like they weren't going to take a hint. He picked his head up off the pillow and glanced at the alarm clock next the phone, it was ten forty seven. He had gotten into the cabin at nine thirty, he had glanced the digital clock as he headed to bed. He picked up the phone and put it to his ear.

	"I told you Sal, I'm too tired to play today. I'll play tomorrow I swear." He said, which came out sounding muffled since only half of his mouth was off the pillow and half of it was still against it.

	"Andrew? Is that you?" That was the last voice he ever expected to hear, but one he'd never forget. He got up and sat on the edge of the middle of the bed.

	"Yeah Denise, it's me. How did you get this number?"

	"I'm fine, thanks for asking." She said, laughing slightly.

	"I didn't mean it like that."

	"I know. I went looking for you and your Aunt Anna told me you send her a letter once a month. She gave me the address, but it took a while to. I..."

	"Why are you looking for me Denise?" He interrupted, as if she never said anything. Denise thought she heard a slight tone of impassions in his voice.

	"We haven't talk in two years Andrew, I wanted to see how you are."

	"I'm doing okay." He said with the same impatient tone.

	"Are you mad at me for something?" She asked.

	"I just don't think your fiancé would like us talking, that's all. Or is it your husband now, after two years and all."

	"Is that what this is all about?" Andrew noticed her voice change during that last sentence, she was crying. Just thinking about her, on the other end of the phone, crying from the pain he had caused her. It hurt him like a hot poker in his heart. But no matter how much her unhappiness hurt him, he stayed strong and didn't even answer her. There was silence between them for at least thirty seconds. "I have something to tell you." She was full out crying now, not trying to hold it back. "I... I never got engaged after.  I... I was just trying to see if you cared or not. I'm sorry, I know it was childish. A little after you left, I found out everything he did to try and get you killed. That, and after seeing you at the park..." She went quiet for a second. "I knew that I loved you too much to be with anyone else." She was sobbing now, sniffing occasionally. For a minute she didn't say a word, just cried. Andrew's heart was breaking by the minute, he didn't have the words. All he wanted to do was hold her tightly in his till she stopped crying. But all he could do is sit there on his bed, listen, and try to hold back his own tears. "I love you Andrew!" She finally blurted out. "I miss you so much, and I'm sorry for all the pain I caused you, and I know you're..."

	"I love you too." Andrew interrupted again, but this time he almost whispered.

	"Really?" She asked, her voice full of hope and a non-energetic glee.

	"Come on Denise, it's always been you." Andrew couldn't see it, but Denise had a giant grin growing on her face. Another thirty seconds of silence passed between them.

	"When am I going to see you again?" She asked timidly.

	"I don't know. I left for a reason. I'm not done yet."

	"Done with what?"

	"Growing... I guess."

	"How long will it take for you to be done?" Another stretch of silence. "Oh man, someone is calling, I have to take it. Can I call you back?"

	"I don't know, it's really late and I've had a rough day. Can I call you tomorrow night?"

	"Yeah... Alright. I'll talk to you later then. Goodnight Andrew."

	"Goodnight Denise." He hung up the phone and sat there looking at it.

	"I hope you're not thinking of blowing off that young lady." The voice was so random it made Andrew jump. "Because if you are than you're dumber than you look." It was Cid, standing inside Andrew's small cabin, the door behind him still open.

	"Hey Sal, how did you know I was talking to a girl? And what the hell are you doing in here? What, forget how to knock in your senility?"

	"Don't snap at me kid, Sorry to just walk in here like. I just came by to see if you didn't want to change you mind about playing tonight and I over heard your conversation. And if you think you're going to play off your feelings for, Denise was it, like they were nothing then I'm going to kick your ass up and down this forest."

	"You don't know anything about me or Denise, you don't know our situation." The conversation had elevated to an argument at this point when Andrew started to raise his voice.

	"Cut the crap kid. I'm forty seven years old, I've seen most of this great country of ours, and have been through a lot. What you're going through isn't new, and you're too young to be hiding from your problems."

	"I'm not..."

	"The only people who come here and stay here don't want to be found. Don't tell me you're not hiding." Andrew opened his mouth to respond, than closed it. "Going through life with a broken heart can make you want to die, but living life with the love of a good woman can make you feel invincible. If she's willing to work out any problems you guys might have, take it. If not, move on. Find another. But it sounded to me like she is." Andrew sat silently for a little bit and Cid could see that he was working it over good in his mind. Finally Andrew opened his mouth to speak, but Cid interrupted again. "I know, you'll have to sleep on it. It's always good to have a level head kid, and being smart in this world can take you places." He said while heading to the door, opening it. "But sometimes your mind gets in the way of what you know you need to do." Then he walked out of the cabin, shutting the door behind him. Andrew was alone again. He laid in bed, on his back, his hands behind his head. In the dark, thoughts of Denise and their history, Cid's words, all of it swirled in his head. He didn't think he was going to get any sleep, had too much to think about he guessed. Two minutes later, he was out like a light.

	

	He didn't wake up till his alarm clock bleared in his ear, yanking him into the conscious world. He got up, got dressed, showered, and ate. Eggs, potatoes, and milk like always. He went to the line up yard to hear his assignment for the day when Cid stopped him.

	"Come to a decision yet?" He asked coldly.

	"No, not yet."

	"Thought that'd be the case, so here." Cid handed him an envelope with the flap folded in to keep its contents from falling out. Andrew opened it, and saw money inside. He counted six hundred bucks.

	"What's this?"

	"Three hundred for one weeks pay, and three hundred for severance pay. You're fired." Andrew's face didn't change, he kept the cautious curious look as if what Cid said didn't register.

	"What for?"

	"We're good with help, you're not needed. Go home." Cid turned and walked away. "Oh, and be out of the cabin by the end of the day." He yelled back without even turning around, just headed down to the line up yard himself. Andrew's expression finally changed to shock when he was looking at the amount of money in his hand and realized he was just kicked out of his only home. He knew he only had one option now.

	"Thanks Cid." He whispered. And once again, by eleven o'clock, Andrew was heading off by himself with a few pairs of clothes, some books, and some trinkets his duffle bag. Aaron, the chief, had made him a three course meal out of snacks, and had packed it up for him to have on the road. Aaron could only afford to give him a small amount of food, but Andrew was grateful for it all the same. So he started walking. How long would it take, he didn't know. He just needed to get home.