IN THE SPRING ON 2008, MY GIRLFRIEND AT THE TIME AND I EMBARKED ON A ROADTRIP THAT WOULD TAKE US FROM CHICAGO (WHERE WE WERE LIVING AT THE TIME) TO SEATTLE (WHERE MY AUNT LIVED) AND ALL THE WAY BACK AGAIN ON A DIFFERENT ROUTE. WE WERE HAVING A TUMULTUOUS RELATIONSHIP BUT BOTH AGREED WE SHOULD DO THE TRIP ANYWAY, FIGURING IT WOULD EITHER STRENGTHEN OUR BOND, BRINGING US CLOSER TOGEHTER, OR MAKE US DRIFT FURTHER APART.