chloe and you had been on the road for days, the hum of the engine almost soothing after all the chaos that once consumed your lives. the landscape had changed once again, stretching out before you in all its unfamiliar beauty. a small desert town in the distance, mountains rising sharply in the background, and a fading sun painting the sky in soft oranges and purples.

you and chloe had stopped for gas, the truck parked in front of a dusty, rundown diner. chloe leaned against the hood, tossing her keys in the air, her signature grin plastered on her face despite the exhaustion. she’d been quiet for a while, but when the light hit her eyes just right, you could see the faint glint of adventure still alive in her.

“who knew the middle of nowhere could look this good, huh?” chloe said, flicking a piece of dirt off her boot. her voice was lighter, like she could actually breathe for the first time in a while. “guess this is as good a place as any to take a breather. you okay?”

she turned her head to look at you, her gaze searching for something in yours—whether it was reassurance or a sign that you felt it too. that sense of freedom, the open road with no set destination.

chloe dropped her gaze, her fingers running over the truck’s hood, as if weighing her next words.