Anthony takes a sharp turn, crashing into a fire hydrant, causing water to explode everywhere.

"Dammit," he cursed under his breath.

I look in the rear-view mirror. Red and blue lights still flash as the sirens get louder.

"What are we supposed to do? Just aimlessly drive around Ohio while they're chasing us?" I ask.

He sighs, as if annoyed and shakes his head, clutching the steering wheel. "I'm planning on taking us to Cleveland. It's the nearest we can travel from here. If we take the correct routes, you know, out of Columbus, we'll make it, and hopefully they'll fizzle out. Trust me I know what I'm doing."

"Oh that's just great," I said, "and how long will that take, hm?"

"I don't know, two hours maybe," he said, although it sounded more like a question.

I look at the analogue clock inside the car; nine thirty in the morning. I don't know if we'll last until eleven. I'm still praying we don't get caught. Damn Cal.

I reach for the pack of cigarettes and light one, inhaling.

"So you're just gonna chillax now?" Anthony asked.

I scoff, exhaling. "What do you expect me to do, huh?"

"I'm sorry, I'm just fucking angry."

"I get it, babe, I am too."

I sigh and lean back. What has this trip come to? All I want is a little liberation, and I can't even get that.

"Anthony watch out!" I screamed as I see a bus approaching in the opposite direction.

Anthony swerves, circles around and takes the next street, the bus now blocking the police cars behind it.

"Phew, that was close," I said, placing a hand over my now thumping heart over my chest. This is completely anxiety inducing.

"Would you be more careful? God, what if there were children in there?"

"Alright, fine," Anthony said, calmly but sternly, pressing the break petal in the middle of the road, jolting us forward. "You drive."

"Anthony what the fuck? What are you doing?"

"You wanna sit here, have a problem with everything I do, I'll just wait until you show me something better, go on."

The blue and red lights from the distance are drawing closer. This time more police cars pile up from the side; looks like they've called for backup.

"What? No, I'm not gonna drive."

"Come on, what are you waiting for?" he asks, pointing to the steering wheel.

"Anthony!"

"Wren." He smiles sarcastically.

I scoot over and stomp my foot on the gas petal as soon as the cars are nearly close enough to touch the bumper. We go speeding off, and his hands instinctively go back to clutching the steering wheel.

"Fuck, what the fuck?" I shout, practically shoving him, causing the car to go off balance.

"I'm sick of this Wren, I really am."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I meant," he sighs and runs a hand through his hair, "I'm sick of these motherfuckers on my back, now I gotta deal with my girlfriend yelling at me? No, Wren. Enough."

"Are we gonna fight, or what?"

"Up to you."

I sighed. "I'm sorry, Anthony."

He looks in the mirror and says, "Me too."

I roll the window down and puff smoke out.

"Is there a fucking ashtray in here?" I ask, looking around.

Anthony points to the dashboard, where a glass, unused ashtray sits. I grab it and put my cigarette out. Somehow, smoking is making me more nervous.

♬

We've been on the scene for God knows how long now. Swiveling around, swerving near cars, poles, almost running people over, and whatever else.

"Do you even know where you're going?" I ask.

"Yes I know where I am going," he said. "It'll just take a little longer."

"You keep saying that. Anthony, it's almost four p.m. That means we have been on the road for nearly six hours. And you said it would take us two hours to get to Cleveland. I don't see the sign anywhere."

"I'm sorry, alright? I'm sorry for fucking up, and I'm sorry for almost getting us killed in the process, and I'm sorry that I don't know where I'm going," he sounds tired, almost like he wants to give up.

"You've been painfully quiet the past few hours, is there anything you wanna talk about?" I asked.

"No," he simply stated.

"Alright, whatever."

I chuckle over a thought, then said, "It amazes me how we haven't run out of gas yet."

"Don't jinx it."

I look out the window. As the hours have gone by of the chase, I no longer feel as scared as I have when we first started. We've even slowed down a bit. Considering we're practically surrounded, helicopters over us and shit, I feel like we've done pretty good. Although Anthony hasn't said much, which is making me nervous. I wonder what he's planning.

"Give up, you are surrounded," we hear a man's voice say over the speaker from the helicopter.

"Fuck," Anthony whispered, picking up the pace.

"Anthony," I shriek as we took off faster.

We somehow got caught in an alleyway, leaving us without much road space. Anthony attempts to turn the car around, but police cars are blocking almost every entryway now.

"Shit, take a left, take a left!" I said.

He tries to turn the car around last minute, following a brick wall in front of us.

I scream and tighten my seat belt. "Anthony!"

He halts the car to a stop, the car smashing into the wall. We stop and pant, Anthony wiping the sweat off his forehead.

"Fuck," he said, looking down.

"What is it? Are you okay?" I asked.

There's a line of blood forming on his abs, and he hisses.

"Oh my God Anthony, you're bleeding," I said, looking for something to clean it up with.

"It's no use, Wren. I'm sorry," Anthony said quietly.

"No, no, I'm sure there's something in here-"

"No, this. Everything," he says, stepping out of the car.

Puzzled, I step out with him and questioned, "What are you talking about?"

He looks at me for a moment, not saying anything.

"Hello? Earth to Anthony?" I wave my hand in front of his face. "We need to go!"

I hear the sirens in the distance, driving closer.

"Wren," he says, placing his hands on my face. "There's no point. I mean, look at what I've turned you into. You somehow...changed." He eyes me, with an indescribable saddened expression on his face. It's almost as if he's disappointed.

"Nonsense, I'm the same person I was yesterday, today, and tomorrow, now let's go." I grab a hold of his wrist, but he gently removes it.

"Wren, I can't."

"You can't what? Anthony...tell me what's wrong, please. Stop beating around the bush, there's just no time."

He sighs quietly. "Alright, I'll be quick. Listen, baby, this is as hard for me as it is for you, but I've been thinking. There's no way I'm going to get away with this, not with the cops chasing me. I nearly got us killed, a-and I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I've been selfish. I took you away and kept you all to myself. I've changed you. You sound different, not like the girl who I met who sounded like she wasn't going to put up with any man's bullshit, and I've gotten you into this. You've gotten mixed up with drugs, sex, and I feel bad that I've forced you into doing things you didn't believe in, or at least weren't ready for."

I pause, thinking that maybe he's right, but snap out of it. "But, you coming into my life...it was a drastic change, but only because you brought me out of my shell. You never completely changed anything. You helped me."

He gulps, cupping my face with his hands. "Wren, I can't do this anymore. I'm sorry. I want you to go back home, where you belong. I'm so sorry Wren..." he begins crying now, wiping his tears. "I...I raped you. Please promise me something. Please promise, that when you're out of this hellhole, you'll find someone better. Not a fucking selfish bastard like me."

"Don't be sorry. You've given me so much, and I'm thankful for the experience," i cup his face and sob, "I don't want anyone else, Anthony. I'll circle the world for you, if that's what it takes."

The red and blue lights glow on his face in the afternoon sun, the evening sky peaking through the back, covering over the state like a dark blanket.

"Anthony you can't go. You can't...I love you."

"I love you too, Wren. I love you so much, that I want what's best for you."

He calms down and kisses my forehead, then my cheek, then lips. "You have the ability to do big things. I know there is a light inside of you, and one day when you do, I want to hear about it. I want to read all the poems you write in the future. I believe in you, my darling. I'll see you again soon, but not like this, not what we have now. Goodbye, Wren."

He kissed me again. We hold each other, and once the cars get close enough to reach us, I inhale his scent one last time. He smells of sweat and road tripping. I caress his face with my hand, his cheek so soft. Every memory of us replays in my head, all of which I'll never forget, but soon will have to learn to accept - I'll never get to be with him the same way again. I feel drops of water trickle onto my head. I look up; it started to rain.