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present. Since I only had it a week, though, I wanted to let you know that I sold it and thought that you should have the proceeds.”
    Before Stephen could speak, I tossed a single penny high in the air in his direction. I’d just about made it through the door before he voiced his outraged realization.
    Without a backward glance, I reached the car and hopped over the door and into the driver’s seat “Dukes of Hazzard”-style. Starting the little car’s engine, I navigated my playlist to the Police’s “Ghost in the Machine” album and cranked up the music. I was always a bit of an eighties aficionado, in case you hadn’t noticed. They were simpler times, with sitcoms that featured families who were happy, brothers and sisters who got along, and music that was mostly rap and booty-free. What’s not to like?
    My phone rang persistently, but I didn’t answer. It was Stephen, of course. I’d have to make arrangements for a new number once I got to Ireland. I wouldn’t come back here again, I vowed to myself. I’d given up on Stephen for good now, and I had already given up on Roger years ago.
    Thinking of him, I glanced up at the window on the topmost floor. Roger was staring down at me from the window of his bedroom. As I continued to look at him, he slowly raised his right hand and I thought for a moment that he was going to wave. Instead, he simply extended his middle finger. Shaking my head, I muttered under my breath, “He’s all yours, dog breath.”
    Turning the key, I drove off with the top down, speeding toward the airport and the plane that would take me to my new life.
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER THREE
    A LIFE BEGINS
     
    When I got to the airport, I sent a text with the location and the pin number for the car to Gabe, and left the keys under the mat. Opening the trunk, I extracted two small duffle bags and a backpack, and shut the lid. I believed in packing light.
    After negotiating the airport, I looked forward to a peaceful flight. For me that meant that I could eat unlimited Snickers candy bars and nap under a hobbit-sized blanket.
    After navigating through security and waiting through the long boarding process, I finally made it to my seat. An attractive blonde who was sitting in an aisle seat across from me smiled invitingly. This was nothing new in my experience. I'd been told before that I looked five years older and was therefore used to having older women hit on me.
    After my mother’s death, Stephen was never without a beautiful woman on his arm. He rarely introduced any of them to Roger and me, so I couldn’t say that I recalled even one name. Since I had no interest in turning out like Stephen, I generally ignored these types of situations when they came up.
    Ironically, girls my own age refused to give me the time of day. It had never helped matters that I’d had the ideal girl in my mind for quite a long time, most of my life actually, and wasn’t willing to relinquish the dream yet. I gave the woman across from me a small smile before deliberately closing my eyes and turning my head toward the window; the blonde's disappointment was almost tangible.
    I slept deeply, falling into the familiar dream almost at once, as though it was merely waiting for me to close my eyes to start replaying it.
    Alone, I stood on the rocky coast by Gran's small village, letting the water soak my shoes. It was almost sundown and I’d decided to turn back to the house when…there she was. The young girl with dark brown hair and eyes as blue as the sea.
    Let me come with you. Thoughts that I was unable to voice clouded my mind. This was the part where she always shook her head sadly and slowly faded away.
    This dream didn’t disappoint. When I woke, I discovered that we were approaching the London airport and the seatbelt sign had been turned on. I’d slept through the flight in its entirety, without even waking for the sub-par meal and over-salted pretzels.
    My eyes roamed the cabin. To