Chapter Seven

Chapter 7

“Like a butterfly, you floated by and now you're alone
I wish I knew when I'll be back again
So until then I wish you well
My dear Brielle”

Sky Sailing, Brielle

June 1, 2012

6:30 am

The email simply said this.

Friends and Family.                                                                                       

I cannot survive like this anymore.  I had every intention of taking a long walk off of the Golden Gate Bridge last night. So, this is my one-year warning.  I am taking the trip that Nate, Destiny, and I planned last Christmas and am leaving today.  Vigo is coming with me.  I will return to San Francisco April 30, 2013.  I will not answer my phone if you call me.  I will consider answering an email if you absolutely need to get a hold of me.

Merylin, I will be visiting the Denver area sometime around or on June 15 and I wish to see Destiny.

Mother, I hope you burn in hell.

Daddy, I will always love you.  Never forget that.

Grant, Rachel, it’s up to you two to hold down the fort.  Keep those little interns in line.  Instructions have been left with The Boss as to what to do with the stuff in my apartment.

Forever,

            Brielle

She double checked the recipients before clicking send.  Brielle sat and stared at the screen blankly.  What the hell was she doing?  This thought triggered a quick glance at the soon to be abandoned apartment and at her one suitcase and her laptop bag and she thought of her van and the contents inside.  Wiping quickly at her eyes, she closed the laptop with a fury that would have surprised her had she cared about anything these days. 

She loaded up her bags and took another quick look as if imprinting what used to be her life in her memories.  Blinking quickly to clear her vision, she hurried to the elevator.  There was a certain black lab in the car that was eager for the trip and she didn’t want to leave him alone too long.

She slid her apartment key under Rachel’s door and adjusted her computer bag as she walked to the elevator.  On the ride down, she double checked to ensure that she had remembered the maps and her wallet.  Nodding at the doorman as she left the building, she walked around to the garage where her van and Vigo were waiting.  She had two stops to make before leaving the city.

She double checked the van to insure that she had everything that was needed.  The back and middle seats had been removed to create a sort of mobile home for her.  In the back sat a mattress with her down pillow, sheets, and a heavy blanket.  There were three separate suitcases, one for her shorts and pants, one for shirts, and the other for undergarments like underwear, bras, and socks.  She had strung up a pole to hang her towel and some hanging clothes.  Next to her bed was the bed she had concocted for Vigo with the giant plastic box that held his food supply and three large jugs of water for him.  She had a refrigerator that was rigged to the van to charge while the van was on to keep the food inside cold and fresh.  It was an invention of Grant’s, who had made it for her when she first got the van three years prior and told him she planned to travel in it someday like it was an RV of sorts.  There was also some boxes of dried goods and easy to make dinners.  She had a Colman camping stove with some extra propane. 

“I’m think we’re set, Vigo.”

----------------

Brielle usually hated the fact that Mr. Roy Hickman, The Boss, came into work so early.  Today, however, she was thankful because she knew he would be alone.

He was quite shocked to see her walking into his office a little before seven, and removed his reading glasses to look at her.  “Can I help you, Brielle?”

“I’m leaving today.”  She said simply.

He nodded knowingly.  “I suspected you would go soon, after our conversation the other day.”

She gave a brief nod and sighed.  “I am grateful for all you’ve done to help.  Have you told Tracy yet?”  Tracy was the girl who had taken her job way back in January when she had gone to the funeral.  A young, promising web designer and programmer who had recently graduated and had yet to find a job, who was also still living with her mom. 

“I have, and she was shocked.  She wanted me to thank you profusely for the opportunity you’ve provided her.” 

She shrugged nonchalantly.  “I’m not using my apartment.  You also told her that the next two months are paid for and that she will need to start covering it past then?”

“I have and she has conceded to that.  What she will make here will cover the apartment, I have ensured that.”

“Thank-you.”

“No, thank you.”  Roy stood and walked around his desk to Brielle.  He placed a hand on her shoulder.  “You are a wonderful person, Brielle.  I hope this trip turns out the way you plan.”

“Mr. Hickman, nothing ever turns out the way I plan.”  She gave a small smile.  “And I would have it no other way.”

“Peace be with you, Brielle.”

“And with you, Roy.  Thank you for everything.”

He patted her shoulder and went back to his desk.  “You are more than welcome to return here when you have returned to San Francisco.”

She smiled.  “Thanks, Mr. Hickman.”  She gently closed the door behind her.  As she left the building, she grabbed the picture of her and her brother from her desk.  The rest would remain for Tracy to use.

Time for the Hard Rock Café in San Francisco.

Sliding open the van door, she pulled a box towards her and opened the lid.  Inside were a few dozen rolls of tape and hundreds of copies of the engagement picture of Nate and Destiny.  She blinked back tears and sighed.  “Well, Vigo, time to make our first drop.”  She checked the battery on her camera and placed everything back in the box.  Patting the dog’s head, she slid the door closed and hopped into the driver’s side. 

The Hard Rock Café hadn’t taken long.  A quick picture of the building and she was off towards the Golden Gate Bridge.  She needed to let Vigo run around and play before heading up towards Yosemite National Park. 

His tail was wagging excitedly as she pulled into the parking lot, the other dogs were exciting him and he wanted to meet them.  She clipped the leash onto his collar and locked the van.  “Alright, let’s go buddy."

----------------

It had been years since she had seen Yosemite National Park, since she was 12 to be honest.  As she drove through the park, she searched for the turn for the Upper Pines campsite.  She was glad that they had called to make the reservations during the planning because if she had tried now, she knew it would have been impossible to get any reservation for any campsite in the park. 

Vigo had his nose pressed to the window, fogging up the glass with his breath.  He could see all the trees and wanted to smell and pee on every tree in sight.  The sadness that had plagued the dog seemed to be dwindling with every passing day and Brielle was jealous of the dog’s ability to forget.   She was grateful for the dog’s company.  She had only been gone from San Francisco for (time) and was already feeling the pressing loneliness from the isolation of traveling alone. 

Pulling into the campground, she quickly checked in with the Ranger’s station and pulled her van into campsite 40.  She debated if she wanted to actually pitch a tent and decided that her van would be more comfortable to sleep on, with the small mattress and its blankets resting in the back of the van.  

[describe preparing for dinner/bed]

[creepy dream sequence here, eventually hearing scratching that leads her to her brother’s grave site, the grave is alone, and she can hear him banging and scratching, trying to get out.  She can’t get him out.  Wakes up screaming to find the wind was blowing branches against her van windows.  Vigo whining and nosing her, trying to comfort her.  Sits sobbing the rest of the night.]

Brielle knew she was dreaming.  She knew because she had never seen these woods before.  The only thing that struck out as odd was the unfamiliar location.