Abby followed Vanessa out of the trailer, her mind a whirlwind of questions and speculations of the future. It was all happening so fast that the young woman was having trouble processing all of it at once. Abby caught sight of the car her rescuers had arrived in. All four doors hung open, none having taken the time to close them in their mad dash to the trailer.

          "We heard shouting," Vanessa explained, almost as though she could hear the questions Abby had yet to voice. "We're sorry we had to leave you in that situation."

          They hadn't been the only ones attracted to the shouting. Several residents were huddling in open doorways, or peering out of windows trying to figure out what was going on. Abby wanted to scream at all of them to go back to bed.

          They'd never cared before, why start now? She knew that would just add fuel to the fire. They'd find out soon enough, and after a day or two no one would care. Life, for them anyway, would resume as normal.

          Turning her gaze away from the onlookers, Abby didn't know what to say, or how to express just how grateful she was for Vanessa's intervention. She was still quite shaken by the whole ordeal. Her mother had never looked so angry before, so determined. Abby couldn't help but wonder if she would have gone through with her threats, and that made the whole episode that much more unnerving.

          As cruel and heartless as her mother had been, Abby had still loved her. It was the innocent, unconditional love of a child desperate for affection. It hurt her deeply to think that her mother hadn't loved her at all, that not even an ounce of caring existed. It was all Abby had ever really wanted after all, a little love and acceptance from the one person she desired it from the most.

          A thought dawned on her then and Abby felt sick to her stomach. The ring, it was gone. How could she have been so foolish? She could hear Adam now, telling her he told her so.

          "I sold it," she blurted out as they reached the car.

          "Pardon?" Vanessa paused, looking back at her. It was clear to Abby the woman was confused.

          "The ring... I found it and I sold it," she repeated, a bit quieter this time. As if to prove it she pulled the wad of bills from her pocket. "I just wanted to get out, to get away."

          Vanessa smiled and reached into her pocket.

          "You mean this ring?" She asked as she produced an ornate box. She opened it revealing the ring Abby had sold earlier that afternoon.

          "We were following you," Jasper explained as he joined them by the car. He had the folder of signed documents in his hand. "Ring or not, you were under our protection."

          "But... why? I don't understand," Abby replied.

          "Unfortunately we are not at liberty to say," Vanessa declared with a knowing smile. "But if you will come with us, we will take you to someone who will be more than happy to explain everything."

          "Where are we going?"

          "That is a surprise," Jasper answered with a wink. Vanessa motioned to the back seat of the car. Abby glanced back towards the trailer. Until this point, it had been all she'd known, it had been her whole life. As much as she had hated it, she found it was still difficult to leave behind.

          "She'll be alright," Vanessa said quietly, placing a hand on Abby's shoulder. "You've got a big heart, Abigail. That woman, she doesn't deserve you."

          Abby hadn't realized it until Vanessa spoke, but it wasn't the trailer she was having troubles leaving, it was her mother. As much as she was loathed to admit it, Vanessa was right. Abby could only offer a half-hearted nod in response before climbing into the back seat of the car.

          "Can we make a stop?" Abby asked before Vanessa could close the door. "I want to say goodbye to someone."

          "Adam right? I'm afraid we're running short on time; it took us longer than we expected to haggle for that ring..." Vanessa explained with a frown.

          "Oh... okay then," Abby replied, feeling glum. Adam was angry with her. Whatever the future held, even if she never saw him again, she didn't want to leave things that way. "What about the others?" Abby asked, recalling the two men who had burst into the trailer alongside Vanessa and Jasper.

          "They're going to stay behind and make sure that your mother behaves herself, at least until we're gone, they have other accommodations."

          Abby nodded, watching as the trailer faded into the darkness.

          As they turned onto the main road Abby felt as though a weight lifted off her shoulders. Despite all her fears and anxiety, she was on her way to a brighter future.

          She hoped.

          They were sitting at a red light when Abby caught sight of a figure walking down the street towards the corner. It wasn't until the stranger stepped into the pooling light of a street lamp that Abby realized fate really was on her side.

          "Adam!" She shouted as she threw the door open and leaped from the car. Vanessa shouted after her, but Abby didn't slow down. "Adam!" He looked up, obviously surprised to see her.

          "Abby? What are you—"

          His words were cut short when she threw her arms around him in a tight hug.

          "I'm so sorry," Abby declared, on the verge of tears.

          "Nah, don't worry about it, I overreacted," Adam replied, wrapping his arms tightly around her. "All I could think of was how awful it would be without you here. It made me mad that you didn't seem to care that you would be leaving me behind. It was selfish, I know, but I couldn't help it."

          "Why are you still here? Did you change your mind?" He asked, his tone hopeful.

          Abby felt her stomach twist.

          "Not exactly..."

          Adam frowned.

          "I'm going to see the person who gave my grandfather the ring," she explained. "I don't know what is going to happen after that."

          "So the story is true?"

          "I... I don't know, but I want to find out... please don't hate me, Adam, I need to do this," Abby pleaded with him. She wasn't sure if she could go through with this without his support.

           "Abigail, it's time to go," Vanessa called. Abby turned to see her standing outside of the car, waiting.

           "You're going now?" Adam asked, his voice heavy with disappointment.

           "Yeah, I know it's fast but—"

           "I'll miss you," Adam interrupted, hugging her tightly again. Abby could feel his heart pounding in his chest and she wished there was something she could say to make this moment easier – for the both of them. What he whispered next surprised her. "I could never hate you, stupid. Promise me you'll come back?"

          "I promise," Abby replied without hesitation. "I'll call you, and write to you."

          "You? Write a letter? I'll believe it when I see it," Adam joked, releasing her from the hug. "Do you even know where to buy a stamp? Or find a mailbox?"

          "Fine, e-mail then," Abby stated, moving backwards towards the car. She knew that if she didn't go now there was a good chance she'd change her mind. In truth she wasn't even sure that was an option anymore.

          "Don't forget me, alright?"

          "Don't be stupid, Adam," she grinned. She offered him one final wave before jogging back to the car, her heart aching. Abby had thought seeing Adam would make her feel better, but it had only made her heart heavier.

          "Done?" Vanessa asked before Abby could offer an apology for her hasty actions.

          "Yeah, sorry, we can go now," Abby replied. Vanessa smiled and once again motioned for Abby to get into the car.

          "Seatbelts," Jasper instructed before pulling away from the curb. Abby glanced out the window, hoping to get one last look at Adam, but he was nowhere to be seen. Curling up against the backseat, Abby felt tears burning in the corners of her eyes. Why did saying goodbye have to be so hard? Maybe it would have been easier if she knew what she was heading towards.

           There were a thousand questions swarming through her mind, but she had a feeling her two companions would be unwilling to offer up any answers. Up to this point they had been secretive about their activities, and the only real clue that Abby had was the ring, and the name of her apparent benefactor.

           Jasper guided the car onto the highway and Abby watched as all she'd ever known sped by in the blink of an eye. If someone had told her two days ago that she'd be leaving, she wouldn't have believed them. How many times had she dreamed of this moment? How many long nights had been spent wondering what her grand escape would be like? Even now she was still somewhat concerned she might wake up and discover this had all been a dream.

          "Tired, Abby?" Vanessa's soft voice drifted towards her from the front of the car.

          "Yeah, a bit," Abby replied quietly. She was more distracted than tired.

          "I imagine you're hungry as well? We'll have something brought up to the room when we arrive at the hotel," Vanessa assured her. Abby wasn't entirely certain she could eat, her stomach was still all twisted in knots.

          "Where are going?" She asked again, hoping this time to get more than just vague answers.

          "Tonight? Well, tonight we're staying in the city. Our flight leaves early tomorrow morning," Vanessa explained.

          "Flight? We are flying somewhere?"

          "Yes, we are heading to New York, her grace is in residence there. She was quite insistent that she meet you before she leaves next week," Jasper chimed in.

          "So... what my grandpa said about the ring..."

          "The duchess will answer all of your questions tomorrow evening, Abigail," Vanessa replied. "For now just get some rest, you've been through quite an ordeal today."

          Abby nodded and tried to get comfortable. It was interesting to her that even expensive cars were difficult to sleep in. At some point she must've drifted off because the next thing she knew Vanessa was gently shaking her awake.

          "We're here, Abby," she said.

          Rubbing sleep from her eyes, Abby climbed out of the car and stretched.

          "This way," Vanessa instructed, guiding her towards a large, ornate building. The lobby was richly furnished with plush carpets and upscale décor. A few guests lingered here and there, but for the most part the lobby stood empty. Abby had a feeling that earlier in the evening the area had been a bustle of activity, and the empty restaurant had been full of life and laughter.

          "Abby?"

          "Huh?" Abby realized she had been staring and that Vanessa had finished checking them in. "Sorry, still tired I guess." Vanessa just smiled and started towards a wall lined with elevators.

          "We've got to get an early start so I suggest going straight to bed, after a warm bath and something to eat of course," she explained. "We'll need to leave for the airport by eight. We'll arrive in New York by ten and we'll do a little shopping before we meet her grace for lunch."

          "Shopping?" Abby wasn't entirely sure how she felt about that. Money aside, it wasn't one of her favorite past times. Vanessa grinned and ushered the anxious Abby onto the waiting elevator.

          "You didn't exactly have time to pack anything now did you? You don't want to meet her grace in wrinkled clothes do you?" Vanessa inquired.

           "No but... I don't have any money..." Abby admitted.

           Vanessa laughed and Abby felt her cheeks grow hot.

          "You really have no idea how your life is going to change do you?" the woman asked her.

          "I guess not," Abby murmured, feeling a bit embarrassed.

           "Well, tomorrow you are going to find out," Vanessa assured her. "In the meantime, the only thing you need to concern yourself with is what to eat for dinner." Abby nodded, once again feeling bewildered and overwhelmed by the oddness of the situation she now found herself in. Just what did Vanessa mean when she said change?