CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY – THE ROAD TO THE EAGLE’S NEST

With one final hug and a promise to text when she arrived safely, Nia returned to her apartment. She fired off a brief but polite resignation email to Mr. Hager, apologizing for the short notice but explaining that unforeseen circumstances necessitated her immediate departure. An hour later, Nia found herself at the bus station, a one-way ticket to Philadelphia clutched in her hand. As she boarded the night bus, she felt a mixture of anxiety and excitement churning in her stomach. The bus was half-empty, the interior dimly lit to allow passengers to sleep. Nia stowed her suitcase in the overhead compartment and settled into a window seat near the back. As the engine rumbled to life and the bus pulled out of the station, she watched the familiar streets of Tarrytown slip away into the darkness. The rhythmic hum of the tires on the highway and the gentle sway of the bus had a lulling effect. Nia found her eyelids growing heavy, the events of the day catching up with her. She leaned he