Ryan acted upon Neil, not with the charm of a four-leaf clover, but as a poultice, drawing out his strength in a metaphorical bloodletting that made him weak and feverish. In his weakened state, Ryan took command of the steering wheel, desperate to bring to life the dream that would mend Neil’s tormented heart forever.
Along with the sustenance of his blood, Neil’s prematurely geriatric state also fell by the wayside as he drew closer to the father he loved and missed so desperately, he’d housed himself inside a fortress of hatred in order to survive each day.
Abandoning the ploy of Mexico once Ryan was at his side, Neil abruptly decided on a detour toward Texas. Speeding just enough to accelerate their odyssey, but not so much as to get pulled over, Neil had begun to head east through A
