Flat top road. Yellow line separates traffic coming from both directions. Auburn trees, dropping leaves, some leaning to the side. A hitchhiker walks backward.

A pack of dogs runs in the woods. They come from different homes. Runaways, unwanted animals looking for food. Bathing in a fountain. Will they ever find peace?

Truckers carrying logs. Long stretches of lumber with red flags attached to them. Cars follow with caution.

Honey, hand me that thermos between your feet. He tells her.

Do you want me to pour you a cup? She asks.

Sure. Shake it first. All that sugar on the bottom. Mix it well. He looks at her and then back on the road.

Here, she gives him the cup. Her hand shakes a little. Can I have some? The girl asks. He drinks and passes the coffee to her. She takes a sip and fumbles through her backpack for a cigarette and lighter.

Where are you going again? The driver asks. She stares out the side window. I asked, where are you going?

Where are you heading? She asks.

I gotta drop this load in Pittsburgh,  he tells the kid.

That’s as good a place as any, the blonde girl replies.

Why are you leaving Morgantown? The truck driver enquires. West Virgina is really pretty this time of year. You must be running from something or someone, he says. Was it really that bad?

What? She inhales smoke and blows it out of her mouth and nose.

You look like a dragon. He laughs. All that smoke. Where’s the fire?

What? She’s getting angry.

Fire, he says. Dragons breathe fire. Anyway. Is it really that bad?

She continues looking out her window. Mister, she says. I’ll ask again. What are you talking about?

The thing you’re running from.

I’m just running, she says. The girl rolls up her flannel sleeves, revealing a hospital wristband.

They traveled a while. Drove through mountains and onto highways. They both remained quiet. Not a word said. Just silence.

The driver turns on the radio. Karen Carpenter is singing a song. He hums along. The kid remains speechless.

This song is called Superstar. About a groupie. I fell in love with you….before the second show….He sings to her. She sure could sing. Shame what happened to her. Sad. Wouldn’t want to see that happen to you, he said. Here, screw this back on the thermos.  Tight now. Thanks.

Could we not listen to the radio? The teen asks.

Sure. He turns it off.

They go back to silence. Neither revealing much about themselves. Just driving quietly in the cool night air.

Do you go downtown? She asks.

I can. He tells her. Any particular place?

Just downtown. She says.

I’ll drop you off by the hospital, he tells her. Maybe they can get a straight answer from you, he says.

I doubt it. She looks at him. I seriously doubt it.

Back to silence.