And every time it gets too real
And every time I feel like sabotaging
I start running (Again)
And every time I push away
I really wanna say that I'm sorry (Yeah)
But I say nothing

The snowfall was only just beginning to stick to the cobblestone streets, a distinct difference from the small flurries earlier that morning. An omen, perhaps, warning her from making the greatest mistake of her life. Abandoning her family, Alfred and Zach presumably for life was beginning to look like a daunting prospect. However, Jo could envision no other path that made sense. Staying wasn't an option, not when she was certain to do so would mean sacrificing much of who she was as a person. Neither was asking Zach to wait for her for that matter. He deserved more than a life of waiting on a letter or a visit. And, quite frankly, he deserved to trust she would remain loyal to him, which after the last week wasn't entirely feasible.

So, she was removing herself from the equation. She was forcing the impossible decision and fleeing like a frightened doe. She was refusing to settle into a life she didn't yet desire, even if it came at the cost of this devastating heartache.

Her goodbyes to her family were curt and brief. Jo had neither the energy or the willpower to offer explanations as to why her departure was so urgent. Saturn offered to join her once more, but she knew if he accompanied her any hopes she had of disappearing into the vast world would vanish. Saturn would be a tether, a link to her previous life. With him came reasons to return, to write, to remain connected. And she just couldn't.

Jo was dragging her trunk behind her, snowflakes dusting her uncovered head, when she saw him. Immediately, Jo stopped in her tracks, her jaw slack and shoulders tensed. He hadn't spotted her yet, there was still time to turn and run. Except, her feet were rooted in place, almost as though the snow had turned to ice and frozen her in place. It was there she stood when he turned the corner to face her, and there she remained speechless as she saw her lover for the first time since her plans became clear.