RUN

3.

My bag made a thump on the bed while I plopped down onto the mattress. The room was dull with a boxed television, floral wallpaper, a mini fridge, and one framed picture of a corn field hanging by its lonely self on the ugly wall. It had a bathroom along with one bed, supporting all that I needed. My eyes were heavy with sleepiness and ached for me to rest but I couldn’t.

          My mind still pondered the thought that he could be anywhere and no matter where I am he will always find a way to get to me. He always does. They lied to me; saying with ease, “Oh he is really nice. You’re so lucky!”

          Ha, that was lie.

          Everything was a lie. Everything he did and said was all a filthy lie covering up the truth of who he is. It was hidden all of this time until a few weeks ago when everything was washed away like a tsunami and the golden truth was revealed. I finally hit the jackpot. Because of him, I am the way I am now with issues trusting others and not wanting to speak to others and instead just wanting to hide in the dark away from anyone who could possibly be somehow connected to him.

          The water from the shower head sputtered a few times before running freely and smoothly. It was surprising that the plumbing even worked at this run down motel. The paint on the outside looked almost gone with only a few patches of the lemony yellow color left and the wood planks that it was on were falling off, some even only holding onto the building from its nail. The motel though was a few miles out from Sydney, in a nearby town.

          When I had walked in, the woman at the desk had her head face down on the key board of the beaten up computer that looked like it hadn’t been used in months with the dust that coated the top in a fine layer. I was greeted by her obnoxious snores that stopped immediately when the bell above the door jingled. Her head shot up while her eyes remained closed and asked me how she could help me though by her looks, she didn’t look much in the position to help with anything.

          I told her that I wanted a room for a few nights and she sleepily handed me a room key and before I could give her money, her head was already down on the key board again. I thought about waking her up in the morning but instead I decided not to and left the office with my room key deciding that I would pay in the morning when she would be more awake or someone else would be. There were no cars when I had walked up the squeaky stairs and now warm water ran over my head; though I wouldn’t call it warm, more like tolerable.

          The water ran through my hair, chasing the dirt that had matted itself in it down the drain. It didn’t shock me when I realized that there wasn’t any shampoo or conditioner or even a bar of soap that was provided. Just from looking at the outside, I immediately knew not to have high expectations. Being glad that I was finally rinsed off from what felt like a film of dirt and the remains of him, I stepped out of the shower and wrapped my body in the one white towel that was placed surprisingly folded on the toilet seat.

          I walked out of the bathroom and back to the bed where my bag still was. I unzipped it and pulled out the one set of pajamas I was able to pack that consisted of grey sweatpants and a loose black t-shirt. They slipped on easily and I sat down on the mattress that squeaked at the new weight of that was me. I grabbed my bag and tipped it upside down, letting all of its contents fall out.

          My tooth brush and toothpaste fell out onto the bed being covered quickly by the extra shirt and jeans I stuffed in the bag and my book. My dirty clothes that I had taken off when I took my shower were still on the bathroom floor. Tomorrow I would have to find a place where I could wash the few clothes unless I wanted to smell terrible.

I picked my tooth brush up from the bed and took it to the bathroom with me along with my toothpaste. The water is murkey when I first turn it on but starts running clear after a few seconds. I wet my toothbrush beneath the stream of water and then put toothpaste on the bristles and start to scrub my teeth. The minty taste of the toothpaste invades my mouth and gives my tongue a slight burning/tingling sensation that makes me want to spit it out and rinse my mouth a thousand times but I don’t.

I continue to brush for the next couple of minutes before spitting into the sink, letting the water chase down what was left. The water pools in my cupped hands as I start to rinse out my mouth, shaking the water around my mouth, spitting it out and repeating. I do this a few times and turn off the light, walk back to the bed, picking up the towel and wiping my mouth on it.

Before finally getting under the covers to escape into a dream world, I lock both of the locks on the door and also make sure that the locks on the window are locked. Once I am positive they are, I slide into the empty bed with my bag on the floor. I push a few pillows around and finally get comfortable.

I close my tired eyes and let my thoughts wander. One thought particular though sticks out. No electronical device fell out of the bag since I had left all of that stuff behind, not wanting to give him any possible way of finding me. I didn’t even bring a phone.

          I had tried once, changing my number and leaving and driving 3,000 miles to California but a week later he stood on the doorstep of my hotel room. He dragged me down the stairs of the hotel and into his car, leaving mine behind and took me back to my house. From there on he kept a watchful eye. Once he started to ease down on making sure I wasn’t going anywhere, I left again to where I had been not even 24 hours ago.

          But this time he found me in less than 32 hours.