Eddie The Banished

The Decision

She walked into her home and hung her keys back onto their hook. She wasn't ready for what came next but she knew she had to tell him. He was where she left him an hour ago.. still sitting in his recliner watching Tv. She walked into the living room and turned the Tv off. He lurched forward from his chair, but stayed sitting "The hell Ann!" Said her step dad. "Rob I need you to shut up and listen, ok! I'm not in the mood for your shit this morning." He sat back in his chair "Someone must be getting a visit from Aunt Flo." She scowled at him.. "Aunt Flo? What are we, 5? It's called a period and no, it hasn't graced me with its presence yet." She said. He raised his eyebrows at her "Annie are you pregnant? Is that was this show of emotion is about?" She shook her head "God.. No, that would actually require me to have sex. Which I haven't, so unless I'm the Virgin Mary.." She paused to compose herself. "No Rob, Mamaw Pearl is gone." He laughed "Well the old crone couldn't have gone far. She doesn't have a car and she sure as hell can't walk. She's probably out with one of her caretakers" he said. Annie could feel her blood running hot. He was not understanding her, and all she wanted was to curl up in her bed until she cried herself to sleep. "Rob! You're not listening to me. For once in your life grow the hell up and listen! She is gone!!" She yelled. He stood from his chair and got in her face. "You will not yell at me in my own house! You will show some respect or get out!" She laughed, "I'm done. I'm done with this house, I'm done with you wasting away. You think I don't miss mom too? But still you don't see me pawning off everything she owned to gamble! I'm leaving, don't you worry." She took a deep breath, "Here," she shoved a bag into his hand that carried about 6 grand in it. "Try not to spend it all in one place.." And with that she walked to her room. She immediately began packing her bag, which wasn't hard, because she didn't own much. She put her favorite Motley Crue t-shirt on, and some Jean shorts. Her converse shoes were falling apart but she loved them anyway. Her mom bought them for her on her birthday two weeks before she died. Her feet hadn't grown since she was 11, and she was thankful she never outgrew them. She headed for the door, and picked up a road map from the shelf in the hallway. "Her step dad was sitting on the front porch steps, waiting for her. "I hope you're not here to stop me.." she said as she shut the door behind her. He didn't turn around to look at her as he spoke, "You're 19, you can make whatever dumb decisions you want. I knew the only thing keeping you here was Pearl." She walked down the steps and turned to face him one last time "I won't be back, probably ever. But you were the best step dad you knew how to be.. even though you were pretty garbage at it.." He laughed and looked at her green eyes. She had her mom's brown curly hair and green eyes. She knew she was a walking reminder of her mom, and maybe by leaving, he could finally find some peace. "Take care of yourself" he said. "You too, Rob" and with that she threw her bags into her car and headed down their driveway one last time.
She wasn't afraid of driving 16 hours to Indiana by herself. She wasn't even afraid of what secrets from her grandmothers past town of Hawkins might hold. But the letter laying in her passenger seat was terrifying to her. She didn't want to read it, but she knew she would have to eventually. Her grandmother had left her $43,000 and a house, but she knew the words in that letter held the most value. She pulled into a gas station after about 6 hours of driving. She grabbed some snacks and drinks for the road and checked the map, making sure she was still on the right course. It was a surprisingly easy drive to get to Hawkins. Only 4 turns in total, she should be there in no time. She put in her Motley Crue mixtape and let her lead foot do all the work.