Abby tried not to slam the door as she got into the driver's seat of her mom's company mini-van. Clarissa was already asleep in the passenger seat. She was everything Abby wasn't, confident, easy-going, fun, always dating hot guys.

Abby's hand shook as she started the ignition and put the van into drive. She rolled down the window to let in the sweet scents of the morning. The roads were empty and the perfectly mowed neighbourhood was quiet. Ahead the sunrise grew brighter. There was hope and excitement in its orange and yellow rays, a promise of new possibilities and a chance to start fresh.

"Quit thinking so hard, you're giving me a headache," Clarissa said in a crackly voice. 

"Sorry," Abby smiled at her friend. "I thought you were asleep. How are you feeling? I know early mornings aren't your thing."

"Hey, you're finally rebelling, I couldn't say no to that and have you chicken out! No way. I have to see this happen first hand."

"I'm not rebelling," Abby said. She glanced into the rear view mirror, then side mirrors, then back at the rear view mirror again.

"Are you worried your parents sent the cops after you?"

Abby chuckled. "Hopefully they won't even notice I'm gone, for a little while at least. They're going on their 35th anniversary cruise." Abby's smile turned to a frown. She sighed heavily. "I don't know what I'm doing anymore Clarissa."

"We don't have to leave town," Clarissa said with gentleness in her voice. "We could just pig out on lactose-free ice cream and watch vampire movies all day instead."

"No, I need to do this." Abby said, concentrating on the road far more than was necessary at this early hour.

"You're right. We're going to have fun! Forget Ben and your parents." 

Abby's eyes stung with tears. She probably had the worst case of separation anxiety know to any adult, who should have been all grown up and a parent herself by now. But that was exactly why she had to do this, to run away from her home town and parents and her inhibitions. She never did anything, she never went on trips, she never went out to the bar, she never rebelled, because she was scared. Scared of getting hurt, scared of life, scared of love and especially of intimacy. It hadn't mattered so much before but in a few weeks she'd be turning thirty, and that was more scary than any of her other fears, enough so that she wanted to do something about all these inhibitions. An impromptu vacation seemed a good place to start as any.

"Where are we going anyway? You never told me," Clarissa asked.

"We're going to chase after the sun until we catch it."

"Always the poet," Clarissa laughed. "Sounds good to me." She pulled off her jacket and set it over her face to block out the sun rays coming over the horizon. "Well then I hope you brought your sunglasses."