Saved

Wren stepped off the bus in a town she didn’t even know the name of and took a deep breath of chilly mountain air. She hugged her jacket closer to her and pulled her bag onto her back before walking up to the information booth. “Excuse me,” she said. Wren tucked the loose strands of silver blonde hair behind her ears as she waited for the older lady in the booth to look up and acknowledge her. She didn’t, so Wren spoke again. “Can you tell me where there might be a room available?” “Only place is the motel down the road,” the lady said, still without looking up. “About a block, and don’t be expecting nothing fancy.” “Just a bed would be nice,” Wren said. The lady finally looked up and pointed Wren I. The direction of the motel. “Thank you.” Wren walked the short distance to the Four Leaf Motel, a long brown building with a green metal roof, and walked through the front door. She was immediately met with the smell of cleaning products and a floor that sparkled as though it had never been walked on. The bell above the door chimed as it closed and Wren looked up to a small, older lady with brilliantly dyed red hair in a short bob. She smiled warmly as she peered at Wren from behind the counter, her green eyes twinkling behind thick glasses. “Good afternoon, love,” she smiled. Wren approached the counter, a small smile on her lips. She pulled on the hem of the sweatshirt she was wearing as she stood in front of the woman. “Hello,” she said. “I was hoping you had a room available?” “Of course, deary,” she smiled even bigger, which Wren didn’t think possible. “How long will ya be staying for?” Wren hadn’t considered that. She picky and her nail, her face looking down. “ Um, I’m not sure? Maybe a couple of weeks?” “Lovely!” The woman said, scribbling something in a book. “Do you have an ID for the rental?” Shit, Wren thought. I didn’t even consider they might need an ID… what am I going to do? “Um… do you need the ID, or can I just pay ahead?” At that, the lady frowned a bit and put the pen down. She leaned forward and looked at Wren with concern etched on her wrinkled face. “No need to pay ahead, deary. But the ID is just so I know whose staying under my roof, and the fake name I put down will be for whoever you’re thinkin’ is looking for you.” Wren gulped and tears pricked her eyes. She tucked another loose strand of hair behind her ear and took the bag from her shoulders. She found her wallet quickly, its not like she had much to dig through, and handed her ID over to the woman. “Thank you,” she said, looking at Wren’s ID. “Ellie,” she said with a smile and a wink. Wren smiled back. “How much do I owe you?” Wren asked, taking her ID back from the woman and grabbing a small wad of cash from the wallet. “Nothing,” the woman said, still scribbling on a notepad. She looked up and handed Wren a piece of paper with a few names and phone numbers on it. “Here’s a few names and places I know are hiring and I know are good people. Call them and let them know Sylvia sent you.” Wren was flabbergasted, and she was sure her face reflected that. She took the note and tried to think of what to say next. “I…why are you doing this? I just wanted a room…” Sylvia smiled. “I am in the business of helping people. It’s how I was raised, and it’s how I raised my sons. I don’t need to know your whole story to know you need help. Now, whether you stay in Lockewood or not, I want to help.” Wren smiled as a tear fell down her cheek. “I will pay you back,” she said, wiping her face. She tucked the paper into her pocket and slung her bag over her shoulders. Sylvia handed Wren a keycard. “Pay me back by rising up over whoever or whatever you are running from.”