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The rippling waves lapped onto the shore relentlessly, its zest for life baffles, but at the same time, seemed so comforting to Carmen. The sea gulls, always an enigma, soared above the water, circling and circling before they streamlined right into the water and pulled up a plume fish, it’s cruelty and resilience to survive both disgust her and astounded her. It was the instinct to survive, the instinct to use whatever means to live, if a simple seagull could understand that, why was Carmen trying to court a slow death? But she wasn’t, Carmen reasoned as she hugged her cardigan closer to her, sliding her hands under the woolen fabric to keep them from turning cold, she was just trying to clear her head, make time for herself, think things through.

After running out of the Morales house, Carmen wandered around aimlessly for the day, just taking the public bus around LA. She avoided the places that she knew Shane, her family or her friends frequented, even went as far as avoiding the places that she knew anyone had even been once. All these avoiding brought her to the Pacific Palisades area of LA, and she decided to take a break here, near the beautiful beaches and the low hills.

Carmen stumbled upon a nice motel, the Sea Breeze, right on the coast of the beach, cushioned by the low cliffs. It wasn’t too expensive, and it was quiet and clean, perfect for her to collect her thoughts. Carmen spent the days walking along the beach, and then in the nights, DJ at the local bar right by her motel, well more like a KJ anyway. The day she arrived, she went into the little bar beside the motel and found it to be quaint, there was only one person working, and between tending the bar and tending to the Karaoke equipment, she was exhausted to the bones. Carmen saw an opportunity for her and she talked the motel manager into getting her a part time job at the bar, and for a much needed extra cash. All she had on her was a couple of credit cards and she was careful about spending her money.