Page 114 of When a Soul Cries

Then another.

By the time the motel sign came into view, my arms were trembling from carrying Halo.

The faded letters flickered above the parking lot.

One light was completely out.

Two men stood outside one of the rooms smoking while somebody yelled behind another closed door.

An empty liquor bottle lay beside the stairs.

I pulled Halo closer.

“Almost there, baby,” I whispered to her, forcing my exhausted legs to keep moving.

Room 116.

My fingers shook as I reached into the diaper bag for the key.

Everything hurt.

My feet.

My arms.

My back.

My chest.

I just wanted to get inside.

Lock the door.

Feed Halo.

Sit down.

Disappear for five fucking minutes.

I slid the key into the lock.

Headlights swept across the building behind me.

I ignored them.

Cars came through here all the time.

I pushed the door open.

“Sol,” a deep, familiar voice called from behind me.

My hand froze on the knob.

No.

Slowly, I turned.

The black SUV sat near the entrance of the parking lot.