Hearing his brother's voice felt like the best thing that had happened to him in ages. He told him about his situation and his brand new plan to leave the bus station in three or four hours.

"I'll call you when I get to town."

"You're gonna have to spend the night there, 'cause I can't go get you right now. They warned us the road to town is flooded."

"Don't worry, bro. I'll wait for you."

"Hope you have some fun, 'cause you're missing it big here, man. Jo brought Fay and some more girlfriends along, and we've been partying around the clock ever since they got here."

Jay chuckled. "Sons of bitches. Tell those babes I expect a nice welcome." He saw Silvia coming. "Gotta go now, bro."

"Take care, bastard."

Jay disconnected and handed out the latte to her with a bright grin, telling her the breaking news.

She took a moment to reply, surprised to see his eyes were actually blue, clear and pale like water. "That's great, Jay! You'll be on your way in a while!"

"Hell yeah! Can't fucking believe it!" He paused. "Wait. You? You mean we."

"What? Oh, no, thanks. I'm trying to get to Fargo, Jay. That's in the opposite direction from town."

"So what? You're gonna stay here all alone the whole day, maybe longer?"

"Yup."

"C'mon! I can't just leave you here. What is it? You want me to beg?"

"Don't be silly."

"So?"

Silvia sighed. "I'd rather die than go back to town. Ever."

Jay looked away, just about to throw a tantrum. "Suit yourself," he grunted.

She smiled, taking her hand towel and her small soft bag to her rucksack.

And she smiled wider when she heard him say, "I know we said no personal questions, but what happened to you there, so terrible you can't go back?"

She sighed, keeping her back turned to him. She'd known she'd have to explain herself the minute she'd refused to leave with him, so she was looking for the best way to do it.

But there was no best way. The answer was one and simple.

So she took her jacket off and went to stand before the couch without a word. Jay met her eyes with a questioning frown when she loosened her scarf, and he sat up when she pulled down the turtleneck of her sweater, revealing the bruises around her throat. Next she pulled up her left sleeve, and her clothes over her right side.

"What the fuck happened to you, woman?"

She wore her jacket again and lit a cigarette, circling the couch toward the large windows behind it. All of a sudden, she didn't feel any shame, any pain. Only something like irritation. There it was. It'd happened. Now it was over, and it would never happen again.

Behind her, Jay turned on the couch, still trying to digest what he'd just seen.

"Who did that to you?" he insisted. "You gotta tell me."

"Do I," she replied softly, looking out.

Jay rested his arm on the back of the couch, waiting for a real answer. Now he understood why he'd found her crying like that. What he didn't understand anymore was her merry mood after that.

Silvia's calm, detached tone threw him off. Her ducks didn't walk the line? Or was she just used to be abused?