Are You Lost?

He shifted in his seat, clearly trying to gauge her comfort level. “You’re Sophia, right?” he asked, the question more of a statement than an inquiry.

Her brows furrowed slightly. “Yes,” she said cautiously. “Why do you ask?”

He chuckled, sensing her apprehension. “Relax,” he said. “Pretty much everyone on campus knows who you are.”

“Oh,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. She nodded, unsure of how to respond to that.

His gaze shifted to Michael, his expression softening. “What’s his name?” he asked, tilting his head slightly as if to get a better look at the sleeping child.

“Michael,” Sophia replied, her voice tender as her fingers brushed through Michael’s soft hair.

“He’s beautiful,” the man said sincerely, his smile genuine.

“Thank you,” she murmured, her lips curving upward slightly as she adjusted Michael’s weight in her arms.

The man extended a hand. “I’m Matt, by the way.”

Sophia looked at him, hesitating for a moment before taking his hand. His grip was firm but friendly. “Nice to meet you, Matt— I'm Sophia,” she said. Then, with a faint smile, she added, “But you already know who I am.”

Matt chuckled lightly, leaning back against the seat. “Yeah, kind of hard not to. You’re a bit of a celebrity on campus.”

She raised an eyebrow at that, the corner of her mouth twitching in amusement. “Celebrity?” she repeated, her tone skeptical.

He shrugged, his grin widening. “Well, maybe not in the glamorous sense, but everyone knows about the Sophia.”

Sophia rolled her eyes playfully, shaking her head. “Lucky me,” she said dryly.

Matt’s smile lingered as he continued. “Hey, do you know a Ron? Ron Bill?”

Sophia’s brow furrowed as she tried to place the name. “Ron…” she repeated slowly, searching her memory. After a moment, realization dawned on her. “Oh, Ron!” she exclaimed, her tone stretching with recognition. “He's dating my ex roommate Mary.”

“Yeah that’s the one— he dated your roommate,” Matt confirmed with a nod.

“Dated?"

"Are they not together anymore?” she asked, raising an eyebrow curiously.

“Nope,” Matt said with a shake of his head. “And trust me, that’s a good thing.”

Sophia tilted her head, intrigued. “How so?”

“Mary was a terrible person,” Matt said bluntly. “She used him, plain and simple.”

Sophia winced at his words, her face softening. “I’m sorry to hear that,” she said sincerely.

Matt waved a hand dismissively. “It’s in the past,” he said. Then, changing the subject, he asked, “Are you heading out of campus?”

Sophia hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. “Something like that,” she said vaguely, her eyes dropping to Michael.

Matt nodded, his expression understanding. “Well, it was nice meeting you,” he said after a moment.

“Likewise,” Sophia said, offering him a small smile.

With that, Matt plugged in his earbuds, signaling the end of their conversation. Sophia turned back to the window, her mind swirling with thoughts. The journey continued, the rhythmic hum of the bus and the faint chatter of passengers serving as the soundtrack to her departure.

\--------------------

The bus came to a gentle halt, hissing as it exhaled air from its brakes. Sophia gathered her belongings— a worn leather bag slung over her shoulder, and Michael resting quietly in her arms. His tiny fingers clutched her coat as if sensing the uncertainty in her steps. Her heels clicked softly against the metallic steps as she descended, the cool midday sun brushing her face with an unexpected warmth.

As the bus pulled away, the world around her came alive with unfamiliar sights and sounds. The Finger Lakes stretched out like a serene postcard, with cobblestone streets lined by small shops and houses with colorful awnings. The air carried a faint scent of pine mixed with the aroma of bread from a bakery nearby. It was peaceful, almost too peaceful, as if daring her to believe that safety could exist in a world so turbulent.

Sophia adjusted Michael in her arms, brushing a strand of her auburn hair away from her face. She hesitated for a moment, looking at the road ahead as though it was a maze with no visible end. Her breath hitched, the reality of her escape settling heavily in her chest. This is for us, Michael. She whispered the words inwardly, drawing courage from them before stepping forward.

Crossing the road, she noticed a couple approaching from the opposite direction. The man, tall and broad-shouldered, held a small paper bag, likely from the bakery. His partner, a petite blonde woman, walked briskly beside him, her sharp green eyes scanning Sophia as they drew near.

Sophia gave a small bow and managed a smile, though her voice trembled slightly as she spoke. “Good afternoon. Can I ask... where am I?”

The couple exchanged a quick glance. The woman tilted her head, suspicion flickering in her eyes. “Are you lost?” Her voice was clipped, though not entirely unkind.