Sleepy Utah Sky

A car stops and for whatever reason they are not aired of me. If pop culture has done anything it has made me out to be evil and untrustworthy. Hitchhikers often get a bad rep, That rep is that we do not belong.

As the driver rolls down the winder. I am shocked. It is a solo traveler. It is a young attractive brunette women. At most she would be 5 years older then me. If I had to guess I would say she was 26. She is smiling and she does not seem to be afraid of me. If anything she probably could use the company. Maybe that is why she stopped. She starts to speak in a calm voice. "where to" I reply with "I don't know" she seems shocked but she is not angry. she laughs and says "get in and figure it out. you are on the road to somewhere." I hope into the backseat and she starts driving again.

45 minutes or so pass and it is a quiet stretch of time. She pulls over and stops the car. " I can take you as far west as Reno." I look out the window and ask " Where are we now." "We are on the Colorado Utah boarder." I laugh "good enough that works for me. " She then goes on to say "Since I am going to be with you for a while I might as well know your name." " Im Paul" she then smiles and says "Nice to met you, I am Stella." I ask her. "what is your story and why did you pick me up." Stella laughs. "Tell me your story and I will tell you mine" I was not getting out of this so I told my story. " I just graduated college and I am trying to find my place in the world. Maybe it is here or maybe it is there. Only thing I know is that I wont find it in my suburbia hometown." "so why are you hitchhiking if you don't know where you want to go" Stella asks me. "I really don't know. I just am figuring things out as I go." is my response. Stella then slows the car down, pulls over and stops "Well I know why you are here. It is only fair I tell you why I am here." "Please do" I say. "I have no reason to be upset but I feel like your hiding something." Stella then says. "Get out of the car and you will hear my whole story." So we both get out of the car. Stella then leans against the car. "Alright Paul here it goes. my story is filled with a lot of things. For starters I was in an abusive relationship, I was fed up with a cooperate America job and then cancer came. ... "Im sorry" I reply. Stella just smiles. "why are you sorry, you have no reason to be. anyway Its stage 4 breast Cancer. Doctor said I had 4 months to live. " "how long has it been" I asked. "its been 9 months but I stopped counting a while ago. Now to be honest I am not happy that at 43 years old any day could be my last but at the same time. I feel like I am finaly happy in life. I am living live on my own terms." "So is that why you picked me up" I ask her.

Stella just smiles at me "Does it matter if I did or did not based on that fact Paul?" She had me cornered and I was not getting out of it. " I guess it does not at all." Stella then said "Paul why did you go to college. " " I would say the same reason why everyone goes. Get a good education and somehow that leads to a future career with a company I would end up hating. " "you think you will be that lucky" Stella then asks. " I wish I could give you an awnswer but I cant." is my reply.

Stella then looks at her watch. "Clocks ticking let's get back on the road" she says that and walks to the car door. "it is your call here, I can leave you hear in nowhere land or hop in, It is your call." I get into the backseat and the car starts up. "Good call" Stella replies. " Oh and Paul I forget to ask you this. Do you have a licence? "Yah I do why" "I feel like taking a nap and you can drive if you want, is that Ok?" "Ok Ill drive" With that Stella pulls over and the car stops. We switch spots and she gets in the back. I start the car up again. I Look in the back seat and I see Stella is Sleeping. While she is sleeping I focus on the road in front of us. The highway is wide open and there are few cars. The Utah desert is empty and wide open. Yet somehow it knows what is happening.

several hours pass and I am stil driving. Stella wakes up and she asks me. " This looks like Utah." I laugh "its been utah for the last few hours. Only difference is the sun is about to set. speaking of which. you want to see the sunset" Stella then replies. "Only if I can sit down somewhere and your nearby." I laugh and then respond. "Keep your eyes open for when you find a good spot."

eventually Stella says. "Next exit." which happens to lead to a perfect spot. The sky is clear as the sun is getting ready to set. we get out of the car and lean next to it. Stella then says. "I want you to cuddle in my arms." I open my arms and she runs towards them. "wow" I say "Your excited for sure." "what can I say" Stella tells me. "I like to cuddle." as we watch the sunset Stella then tells me. "Not how you thought your day would be is it." "Far from it" I would say" Well if you want to. I have a car camping air mattress and some blankets and pillows if you decide to take a break tonight. Either way Paul. Thank you." "what for" I said. she says. " I was alone on this road and I am happy to finally have some company on the way." "Which way" I ask. Stella then says. "How about this. Go west, go west. and Paul Thank you" "for what" I ask ."I was alone and today I would say was a fun day. it was nice to have some company."

soon the sky was dark. It was a clear night. One which you could see all the stars. So bright and so big. The perfect stargazing show. Stella was still in my arms. "remember how I said I wasn't afraid." she told me. "Yah" I reply. "Well I am scared of this moment ending." "I don't take you for one that scares easy and yet your scared of this perfect moment ending. you are one of mystery and wonder as well. stella laughed. "All of those are true and I think you learned that today. "Stella thank you....today was a fun day and while I still don't know where or where life is taking me. I know you have been a special part of it.

Stella then kissed me and she whispered in my ear. "lets forget Reno and see where we go." "Ill say goodnight then" she then said "I hope to hear many more good nights from you."