October 30th, 1992 She hurried down the front steps of her house to her waiting burgandy 1988 Ford Escort. Shaking off the cold, and throwing purse and books in the back seat, on top of John's blue and white rain coat, she waitied for the car to warm up a little, and warmed her hands in front of the heater. Checking the time, she put the car in drive, and looped around the half-moon driveway to the road, and stoped, waiting for the early morning traffic to die down so she could turn right. She pulled out of her driveway, and a few hundered feet up the road, turned right again, up one of the back roads she took each day on her way to college. About a half-mile later, and one more turn to the right, she finaly took the time to light a cigarrette, and settled back for the drive, which would last quite a few more miles. She passed her church on the right, followed by Jim Kent's trailer, her "boyfriend". Though, for the last few months, they hadn't seen much of each other. She felt she needed to make some changes in her life. Nothing seemed to make sense. She'd been going through the motions for so long in her life, doing what everyone expected of her. She had the "nice guy" boyfriend, whom everyone was convenced that, once she'd gotton out of college, she'd marry. Then there was college, studying a subject that had lost it's pull in her heart, if it ever had one. Up until a few weeks ago, she'd felt trapped on a runaway train, no going back. But, after being haunted for years with premonitions of her own death, and then the "reading" she got from her ex-lover Nicholas, who'd tried to assure her that she wouldn't die, but that she'd come back from the dead, she had told Jim she needed some time to herself. The relationship wasn't working and she knew it. Certainly not after she'd met John, the owner of the rain jacket in the back of her car. She put out the last smoldering butt of her cigarrette, and flicked it out the slightly cracked window. That caused her to take notice of someone in her rearview mirror. A large, white truck, which came up out of no where, and was catching up to her at a high rate of speed. She turned down the tape in her tape deck, and kept an eye on the guy who'd suddenly taken up residence on her back-bumper. It was a narrow-winding road, and any speed much over 40 was realy not a good idea, but she uped it to about 50. This was still not enough for her new traveling companion, so, when she saw the 4 way stop comming up ahead, she slowed down, turned on a blinker, and pulled over at the stop sign, giving the guy plenty of room to go around her. There was no one else on these back roads, which was why she chose them. The imposing white pick-up went around her as she expected, but then pulled slightly over and locked down on the brakes, stopping dead in the road. Nothing could prepare her for what came next."You God Damn bitch! Who the f*** taught you how to drive, anyway?" The middle aged man had gotton out of his truck, and was approaching her car. In a blind panic, she swirved around him, through the 4-way, and kept going as fast as the car could go the rest of the way.She sat through her first 2 classes in a daze, not realy taking in anything that the teachers were saying. At lunch time, she entered the smoke filled game room in the student center, where John Gray was already playing pool, cigarrette in hand. (He looked like a 20-something version of that guy who was the love interest on Dr. Quin, Medicine Woman, with the same waist length curly sandy blonde hair, half grown beard, and bright blue eyes.) "Hey babe!" He shouted a greeting to her. She went to him and hugged him, which was not an easy task, as he was a good foot taller than her. "Baby, what's wrong?""I'm just having a Monday on a Friday, that's all." She proceeded to tell him what had happened, which increased the sound of worry in his voice."Do you have any idea who he was? Have you ever seen him before?" Since he was studying Criminal Justice, this brought out the investigater in him, as well as his strong, protective instinct. She assured him she'd never seen him before, and he must have turned off somewhere, since he never caught up to her."I still don't like this. Want me to take you home after school?""What about my car? And what about the fact that mom doesn't know you exist?""I don't know. We could just say your car overheated again or something. I don't want to leave you alone.""John, I'm probably just over-reacting. It was just some crazy drunk on a Friday. Guess he was getting a head start on his drinking and driving or something.""Well, at least let me pick you up on Monday. The odds are even better that you'll run into him on the same road at the same time of day Monday than this afternoon anyway." He grined. "It's been a long time since I got to beat the shit outta somebody!"She laughed."Erin, I'm serious. I don't want anything to happen to you. Remember those premonitions you were telling me you'd been having? Maybe this is why! I love you and I don't wanna lose you." He sat down and pulled her into his lap.She looked at him and smiled. "I love you too. But, what if it's fate? I can't keep looking around the corner at every little thing the rest of my life. I can't live like that, and I wouldn't ask you too, either." The trip home was uneventfull, and that evening, the phone rang. It was Jim, whom she hadn't heard from in a while. She tried to just play it cool."Hi, Jim. What's up?""The church is having a get together tomarrow, for Halloween. Would you like to come?""A "church-approved" Halloween? Wow. There's a party!"After a few more minutes, he talked her into attending, and she told him what had happened that morning."What did you do to provoke that? Did you give him the finger or something?""Jim, why is it, when I tell you something like this, you're always accusing me of somehow "bringing it on myself"? You've always gotta blame me somehow. Why can't you just be supportive?""Well, that's just like something you'd do.""Oh, just forget it. I'll come to the stupid thing Saturday. Happy?"October 31st, 1992 HalloweenThat was the last she talked to him untill the next evening. They decided to meet over at another church member's house for a Christian themed Haloween party. She told several other people of what had happened Friday morning, and one guy suddenly suggested she buy a hand gun, for protection. Jim, as expected, strongly disapproved. November 1st, 1992, SundayShe felt she was in a kind of surreal moment, that imprinted itself on her brain as she stood at the front of her Church Sunday afternoon, a slick, new handgun in her hand. "I'm shopping for a gun at a church. There's gotta be something about that in the 10 commandments, somewhere," she thought to herself. It felt cool and heavy for it's size in her hand."How are you even gonna know how to fire that?" Jim asked from behind her."Nicholas taught me how to shoot, remember?" He remembered, and walked off to talk to someone else."How much for this one?" She asked."$40."She frowned, thinking. "I don't have $40 right now. Can you hold it for me 'till I get the money?" The man agreed.November 2nd, 1992 (Monday)The clock radio split open the morning, jolting her out of bed, and into the shower. She stood naked before her closet, when this sudden strange feeling came over her, and she wished she'd taken up John on his offer to pick her up. She closed her eyes for a moment, and then decided she was going to beat this thing, and then go off with John after their last class for drinks, to celibrate. She picked her favorite sweater, with its stylized roses, matching slacks, and neon pink sweade ankle high boots. Suddenly, she thought, "I'd better leave early, and maybe I can avoid that guy." This suddenly felt like the end of the road. This day. She felt sure of it. If she could make it through this day, to hell with the "good girl" image she'd tried to portray to get her mother and others to not think badly of her. She was going to start to LIVE. She'd move in with John, agree to meet his band, and start a new chapter in her life. This was it. This was the day. Either she'd live or she'd die. She paused by her dresser. Jim's class ring. Her Mom would wonder what was wrong if she wasn't wearing it. She grabbed it up and slid it on her index finger and walked into the kitchen."Ta-da!" She held her hands out, as if presenting a suprise to the world."Nice!" Her mom said. "That goes well together. Aren't you going to get something to eat?""Not time. Gotta go."She rushed outside to her car, wishing she had John's coat on, which still resided on the back seat of her car. The bitter cold mist made her cold to her bones. She cranked the car, and thought for a second. If she turned left instead of right, and took 52 down to Old Cornelia hwy, rather than the back road she usualy took, which had less trafic, maybe she could elminate the last chance of a repeat of Friday's events.She turned left, and pushed her speed as much as she could, considering the rain and not wanting a ticket. About 10 miles later, she turned left on Old Cornelia hwy. and hoped for the best. As she passed where her back road intersected the road she was on, she popped the Red Hot Chili Peppers "Under the Bridge" into her tape player.Sometimes I feel Like I don't have a partner Sometimes I feel Like my only friend Is the city I live in The city of angels Lonely as I am Together we cry I drive on her streets 'Cause she's my companion I walk through her hills 'Cause she knows who I am She sees my good deeds And she kisses me windy I never worry Now that is a lie I don't ever want to feel Like I did that day Take me to the place I love Take me all the way It's hard to believe That there's nobody out there It's hard to believe That I'm all alone At least I have her love The city she loves me Lonely as I am Together we cry I don't ever want to feel Like I did that day Take me to the place I love Take me all that way Under the bridge downtown Is where I drew some blood Under the bridge downtown I could not get enough Under the bridge downtown Forgot about my love Under the bridge downtown I gave my life awayShe looked up, and for a moment, thought she was loosing her mind. The white Chevrolet pick up truck from the Friday before was gaining ground on her...fast. It was now or never. "John, I'm coming to you," she whispered as she put the gas peddle to the floor. She hoped that her little car could take the sharp curves in the rain better than the huge extended cab pick-up of her pursuer. Up ahead was a gas station. Perhaps she could stop there and get someone to call the cops. Suddenly, inspiration hit, as the truck gained on her little by little, she slowed slightly as she approached the gas station, and turned on her turn signal, glancing in her rearviewmirror as she popped another tape into her tape player.J. Bon Jovi I wake up in the morning And I raise my weary head I've got an old coat for a pillow And the earth was last night's bed I don't know where I'm going Only God knows where I've been I'm a devil on the run A six gun lover A candle in the wind When you're brought into this world They say you're born in sin Well at least they gave me something I didn't have to steal or have to win Well they tell me that I'm wanted Yeah, I'm a wanted man I'm a colt in your stable I'm what Cain was to Abel Mister catch me if you can I'm going out in a blaze of glory Take me now but know the truth I'm going out in a blaze of glory Lord I never drew first But I drew first blood I'm no one's son Call me young gun You ask about my conscience And I offer you my soul You ask if I'll grow to be a wise man Well I ask if I'll grow old You ask me if I've known love And what it's like to sing songs in the rain Well, I've seen love come And I've seen it shot down I've seen it die in vain Shot down in a blaze of glory Take me now but know the truth 'Cause I'm going down in a blaze of glory Lord I never drew first But I drew first blood I'm the devil's son Call me young gun Solo Each night I go to bed I pray the Lord my soul to keep No I ain't looking for forgiveness But before I'm six foot deep Lord, I got to ask a favor And hope you'll understand 'Cause I've lived life to the fullest Let this boy die like a man Staring down a bullet Let me make my final stand Shot down in a blaze of glory Take me now but know the truth I'm going out in a blaze of glory Lord I never drew first But I drew first blood And I'm no one's son Call me young gun I'm a young gun As the song played, she was speeding in the run for her life, having temporairaly tricked the man following her into thinking she was turning. She looked down at the spedomitor, and noted that the it only red up to 80 mph, and the needle was unable to go any farther to show how fast she was actualy going. She flicked the cigarrete out the window into the blowing rain, so that she had both hands for the wheel. She glanced behind her, and saw the truck again hot on her tail, but now she'd finaly reached the Golden Pantry she saw as her safe haven. Inspiration hit her again, as a sort of out-of-body experience overwhelmed her. This was quite definatly the end of the road. Whether she lived or she died, nothing would ever be the same. As she pulled into the parking lot, she felt she needed to leave a message to the world, and changed tapes to her November Rain tape, which she'd always felt was somehow "her song". She hit the brakes in the parking lot, glancing toward the inside of the gas station where she'd baught most of her cigarretes. She'd gotton to know the woman inside, at least well enough for her to not think she was nuts, and she knew there was a phone right there where she could dial 911. As she touched the key to turn off the car, she glanced one more time in her rear-view mirror and saw that the strange man had already caught up to her. There might not be time to make it inside after all. He sped into the parking lot and to her left side, exiting the car as he had before, and began screaming at her again. She didn't hear what he said. All that got her attention was his right hand, reaching inside his coat. One word entered her mind. "GUN." As her Guns & Roses tape blaired, she whiped the car in reverse.When I look into your eyes I can see a love restrained But darlin' when I hold you Don't you know I feel the same 'Cause nothin' lasts forever And we both know hearts can change And it's hard to hold a candle In the cold November rain We've been through this such a long long time Just tryin' to kill the pain But lovers always come and lovers always go An no one's really sure who's lettin' go today Walking away If we could take the time to lay it on the line I could rest my head Just knowin' that you were mine All mine So if you want to love me then darlin' don't refrain Or I'll just end up walkin' In the cold November rain Do you need some time...on your own Do you need some time...all alone Everybody needs some time...on their own Don't you know you need some time...all alone I know it's hard to keep an open heart When even friends seem out to harm you But if you could heal a broken heart Wouldn't time be out to charm you Sometimes I need some time...on my own Sometimes I need some time...all alone Everybody needs some time...on their own Don't you know you need some time...all alone And when your fears subside And shadows still remain I know that you can love me When there's no one left to blame So never mind the darkness We still can find a way 'Cause nothin' lasts forever Even cold November rain Don't ya think that you need somebody Don't ya think that you need someone Everybody needs somebody You're not the only one You're not the only one She screached the car in reverse through the parking lot, as the song she'd sung to her beloved John blasted through her speakers. For a moment, she wondered why she was staging this like a movie. "Because it is. And this one may not have a happy ending." She stopped on the hill/driveway, and cursed the black truck which was parked on the side of the road, with a "For Sale" sign in the windshield, making it impossible to see to her left. It was clear to the right, but what about the left. She strained to sit higher in her seat, as the rain blew in the slightly cracked window where she'd flicked out her cigarrette a while earlier. She glanced in the rearview mirror once more, and saw the white truck was ripping out after her. It's strange how sometimes, time seems to stand still and things happen in the blink of an eye that you'd never expect to happen at all. In these moments, lives are won or lost. In that split second, she knew she had to go. She'd either die staying, or perhaps going. Either way. This was the end. An image of Kevin Costner in Dances With Wolves came to her mind, as he road his horse off the end of a cliff, rather than stay and get shot in the back. She floarboared the car. And remembered nothing else. A truck exactly like the one which had been following her struck her in the driver's door, spinning the car around and taking out a mailbox on the other side of the road.The November Rain continued to fall.....