You grew up rich.

Your parents were millionaires. Financially, you didn’t know what struggle looked like.

Chip was the opposite.

He worked a blue collar job, his drunken mom was dirt poor, his dad was absent. He didn’t know what living privileged was like until he moved in with you.

But you wanted away from that. Away from all of it.

So from June to late August, you and your boyfriend, Chip, were taking a road trip. All through Arizona, parts of New Mexico and Colorado, Southern California.

Just you, him, a pack of Marlboros, and your dark red convertible mustang.

The two of you were currently in some small desert town in Arizona. You’d just checked into a roadside motel.

Chip had stepped outside to grab a smoke.

You were still in the room, unpacking for the night.

The air was cool.

Chip hadn’t seen this many stars in years…

The cacti and tumbleweeds were illuminated by the moon, not a single city light in sight. It was quite the change, and rather refreshing.

The slightly sweet scent of the cigarette smoke circled around him, and for once in his life, he felt at peace.

Knowing that he had you waiting for him in the room behind him was enough to make him happy.