Soul Mates

Adalynn Young watched as trees flew past her window. Trees of every shape, size, color, and species. Pine trees, oak trees, pecan trees, almond trees, maple trees, plus many more. So many, Ada had lost track of what kinds she had seen. Jack Young hated the haunted look in his daughter's eyes, however this move across the country was needed for the both of them. After Sarah had run out with her much younger lover, Jack had to get his daughter away from her. Ada almost couldn't believe her father made her up and leave everything she had ever known. It had been a real shock at first, but as time wore on she began to realize this move might not be so bad after all. In small towns news got around fast, including the news of her mother's disappearing act Jack had seen the once bright fire die out of Ada's eyes to a small flickering spark. It had been what helped push Jack to buy the new house. He had spent almost a year searching for a new house in a completely new state. "Only three hours until we get to the new house, how do you feel?" Jack could feel the distance between him and his daughter growing. He'd felt on growing from the moment he stepped into her room three weeks ago with the news of a new house, in South Carolina. Jack had once been very close with Adalynn, but for the last three weeks she had given him the silent treatment. Ada held her silence, watching as more trees flew past. She couldn't very well tell her father she was staying in Ohio instead of moving with him, so her only form of rebellion was refusing to even speak to him. It made the ride quite miserable, but she would manage so long as he understood it was all his fault. "Come on, kiddo, talk to your old man. Please?" It was pretty pathetic of him to whine, but he could only handle so much music before he began to go crazy. Still the thick, impenetrable silence hung across the car. "Look, I know your upset about this whole move, but its best for the both us of." If begging wouldn't work, maybe reasoning would.  "I'm not upset about it, pissed would be a better word for what I'm feeling right now." Finally Ada broke the silence she had held for weeks now. Her voice was full of something Jack had never heard come from his little girl before.  "Adalynn, I'm sorry but it's what was best you. That town has been toxic since your mother, I couldn't stand what was happening to you in that town anymore. Will you please stop making me the villain here?" "Stop making you the villain?" Her voice was full of disbelief at the accusation he had flung thoughtlessly in her direction. "You let that toxic town win, we ran which is exactly what they wanted. What about the next family they attack like that? They know they will win eventually and you just helped prove it too them." Adalynn had whipped around in her seat to face her father, a harsh glare thrown in his direction.  "They were ruining your life, I could see what was happening even if you couldn't or just refused to care." Jack kept his voice calm and level, not giving away any frustrations. He was defending himself and his actions for a reason he didn't exactly know. She was right, they were running from that damned town and it's people. Ada scoffed, sitting back in her seat. Her father was being ridiculous, that town was doing nothing to her or her life. The car fell silent once more,  and Jack knew the remainder of the ride would be spent in a miserable silence. The two never once again spoke up, and Jack spent the last three hours hating himself and this dumbass move. It only drove the last of his family farther than she had been before they'd left that town in the dust.