What if....

Zoe wrote letters as she put more distance between herself and the train station and her late--time speaking, not life speaking--Aunt Astrid.

Dear Aunt Astrid, I got it wrong. I knew I would. I am so sorry. I looked and looked and looked for you.

No way to make that sound convincing.

Dear Aunt Astrid, I have lost your address.
Dear Aunt Astrid, Our train was delayed by snow.
Dear Aunt Astrid, One of those meteors--you know, like the one that killed the dinosaurs-- landed on the tracks.
Dear Aunt Astrid, My father was afraid of you and so am I when I'm not angry with you for what you turned him into.

There was no point in writing a letter. If she wrote a letter it was obvious she knew her aunt's address and therefore was capable of finding her house and taking up residence there as was previously arranged.

Right now, it just didn't seem possible to let that happen.