“Okay, Eleanor, they’ve put out an alert, but honestly, ma’am, this is pretty far out. You’re a long way from anywhere.” He paused, his gaze sweeping the desolate landscape. “Best advice I can give you is try to find some shade, conserve your energy, and be careful. This isn’t the safest place to be stranded.”

He didn’t offer a ride. He didn’t offer water. He just offered a stark warning and drove away, leaving me once again in the suffocating silence. His words, a long way from anywhere, echoed in my head. I had to figure this out. I had to survive.

Shimmering in the heat haze was a sign, its paint peeling but legible: Starlight Motel. It looked like a place that held forgotten stories and cheap disinfectant, but it was a roof. It was my only option.