Daily Flash Fiction Challenge

Sarah drove all night thinking. Thinking of all the things that went wrong in her life, her many mistakes and mishaps.
All she could do is keep pushing through everyday, numbing her problems away. Stuck in a never ending loop, she is a slave to her routine just to get to the next day and repeat everything all over again. This trip is a random one, as usual she stuck her neck out too far and agreed to something she didn't want to do, again. From Maryland to South Carolina is the route. It's amazing how much 16 hours means to someone until they feel they are killing themselves while doing something they don't want to do nor have to do.

Complaining aside, Oblivious, Sarah had to still search for the answer. The highway was dark and quiet, music was playing but her heart was speaking with her soul. By the time she got to her destination and dropped her passengers off, it occurred to her. Never again will she put herself in this situation again. Confirmation appears when she is filling up her car with gas for her ride back home and checks the back seats for anything and finds a disrespectful mess. A slap in the face for her service and compassion.

“NO” was her new favorite word since that day. She doesn’t fear the reactions from people anymore. How she felt that day can’t compare to the fear of disappointing someone nor that sensational itch to assist.That night when she finally made it back to her bed it was clear her life had changed. Not just the mere thought of having to change, but feeling the change at her core, that’s when she knew she earned her stripes and was freed from the binds of acceptance.