we were here

Chapter one- Hayley

I stand on the ledge while the world around me disappears.

Everything around me fades away and all I can feel is the breeze.

My feet are planted firmly on the platform.

I take a deep breath as I close my eyes.

Everything feels so serene.

It's like I'm surrounded by nothingness, and it's peaceful.

For that short amount of time at least.

It's been exactly 3 hours and 27 minutes and counting since I ran away from my home.

That hellhole I called a home for the past 17 years, 11 months, and 29 days.

I know it must sound ridiculous to run away from your home after fighting with your parents, but it wasn't just that, that made me leave.

It's everything, having to put up with all this crap of being a teenager.

It sucks.

And what exactly are you supposed to do after running away from your home?

No idea.

I know I shouldn't be standing on ledges but no, I'm not that kind of person.

It's currently 11:50 pm.

10 more minutes.

I'm sitting on a cold park bench.

Watching the cars go by, secretly wondering what someone would be driving to at almost 12 o'clock at night.

I can't help but think those kinds of things.

I bet if someone passed by me right now, they'd think I'm homeless.

I look like trash right now.

My hair is all tousled.

Streaks of mascara all over my face from crying my eyes out earlier.

I'm wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt, the kind of thing I'd wear to sleep.

I watch the yellow streetlamps glimmering down at the ground.

I look over to my right and see a jungle gym.

I must be out of my mind right now because I seriously got up and climbed to the top of that jungle gym. Yes. I really did.

I bet 12-year-old me would be laughing at me right now.

She'd always imagine that I would be getting ready to attend the University of California to study Cinematic Arts.

12-year-old me had quite the dream.

I wish I could go back to that time.

That was back when my parents actually cared for me, and they were proud.

I miss those days.

But there's no time like the present.

I sigh as I hop off the jungle gym and sit back on the cold bench, staring at the 20-dollar bill I had in my pocket.

I fold it up and put it back.

As far as I know, this is my entire life's savings.

I would've never though that I'd turn out like this, sitting on a bench in a park at 17 years old, with a 20-dollar bill in her hand.

I stand up on the bench, looking around.

For once, the street is clear.

No cars.

No people.

I take a deep breath and jump off.

That was not as exhilarating as I would have hoped it to be.

I get up again but this time I don't jump.

I just take it all in.

My final moments before becoming an adult.

My skin tingles as a rush of cold air passes by.

I hear my phone alarm go off.

It's 12:00 am.

I made it.

Who would've known that I'd actually make it to be 18 years old?

17-year-old me wouldn't have.

But I did.

I'm 18.