ESCAPE

Chapter 7: Thoughts

I found Mother Agatha and the girls still in the living room, talking lively about some stuff I didn't bother to listen. I waited for them to catch a breath.

"Can we stop this?" I asked, breaking the brief silence. They all turned to me, like they didn't realize I was here.

"Stop what, Alana?" Tasha asked, confused.

"Stealing from people. It's not right. It took me so long to know this." I said to Tasha and turn to all of them. Teresa looked horrified.

"How could you say such a thing? Could you not see how it has provided us for years? We don't even need to do anything and we get plenty." Teresa spoke up in disbelief.

"Yeah, but have you thought about the people we stole from? What if they needed the money we stole from to provide for their family?" I implored. Teresa's face remained hard, but Tasha's soften. I turned to Mother Agatha.

"Then what do you want us to do, child? You spent five years with us. You can't deny that you never go hungry by doing this thing you call not right?" Mother Agatha said after a long time.

"I vote to stay, as we are and what we do." Teresa piped up. She looked at her sister to agree with her. Tasha didn't look her way.

"I also don't see the benefit in changing my lifestyle. I have been living pretty well with you girls helping me." Mother Agatha concurs.

"Then, perhaps I could go alone. I am practically seventeen next month." I asked hopefully.

"Absolutely not! I didn't bring you up just so you could leave us whenever you please. Besides, if you go, who will steal the valuables in your place? You are by far the most talented thief I've ever seen." Mother Agatha lost her cool. I sigh.

So, is that all I am to her? A thief who can provide her with a good life? I give a sad smile to Tasha who kept glancing my way with worry. I excused myself to my room to think.

I plopped on my bed. I thought about Teresa and Tasha. Their parents abandoned them. I could understand why Teresa was so cold and unloving. She never knew what love is. Tasha was still fourteen years old, two years younger than her sister. She had experienced so much, yet she was kind and compassionate. She was like the sister I have never had.

I can't leave her here to rot. But I can't take her away too. And I can't stay here.

For five years, I felt like I didn't belong. For five years, I lived in fear and guilt. I'm tired of being restless, tired of having no choice, tired of having been pushed around and told what to do. For doing things I know were wrong.

I want my life back, where I was happy and free.

I'm done waiting, waiting for something to happen, someone to change, some miracle.

But it isn't coming, no one is changing, nothing is going to happen, if — If I don't act first, If I don't change, If I stop depending on others. I formed a plan to run away.