Loving Him

Chapter Four: The Plan

The days flew past as I started finishing up my projects at work. I had ensured to do as much as I could before leaving to fill up my time and to give Kat her space. I had stayed back almost every night these past couple of weeks and could not be happier about where I was headed next. I made sure that I had my recommendations all listed with my updated resume and tomorrow is the day I get to pick up my name change certificate. I could not be more ecstatic. Only my boss knew what my name was after the change.

I was being extra careful to not leave any footprints behind for those entitled abusers to follow me. I had it all planned out. I already had a new job waiting for me, my passports, documents, and IDs were all ready to go. All they're waiting on is my certificate as proof of my name change and then see ya later Australia. I'm over the moon about my decision and I can not wait to start my life, free from the pain of my past and ready for the future and what it holds.

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"Hello, you must be Cleo. Kat's told me so much about you," I turned to look at her as her mum spoke. When has she spoken about me? Sounds like it's happened quite often too. I gave Kat my signature 'We're discussing this later' look and turned my attention back to her mum, not wanting to be rude.

"I hope it was all good things," I gave a fake laugh to cover up my awkwardness. I was never a social person, my anxieties had stemmed from my upbringing. Kat's mum nodded and gave my knee a gentle pat.

"So, Cleo, do you have any clue as to why you're even here? Or did you just come cause of Kat? She has always hated visiting me alone but it was time to visit her mummy," she teased Kat, giving me a cheeky wink. I couldn't help but giggle. She made me feel totally at ease.

"Well, I did come out of curiosity. Kat had mentioned that when I was blowing up at my parents she saw, 'wings'," I implied. Kat's mother sat back and just started between Kat and me. I couldn't make out what she was thinking.

After some time she finally heaved a sigh, stood up, and motioned for us to follow her. I turned to look at Kat and she was as ridged as can be.
"You coming or not?", yelled Kat's mum down the hall.

"Coming," I shouted back, I grabbed Kat's hand and guided her up of the double love seat in her mum's living room, guiding her down the hall, following the sound of her mum. "We're here," I gestured to Kat and me.

"Good, good, come. Sit." She pointed to the sofa in her, well how do I put this, Reading room? I've never seen anything like it. In all honesty, I am not much of a 'spiritual' person.
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A loud thump snapped me out of my thoughts from the trip I took with Kat last weekend. Looking up, I saw that it was just Kat. She was hovering over me with a box of my stuff.

"Wow, hey, let me get that," I jumped up and quickly grabbed it out of her hands. Kat was not someone you wanted to see carry big things. She was about, a hundred and fifty centimeters tall, this woman was petite. Under the weight of the box, it looked like she was about to get crushed. "Thanks, you didn't have to bring that. I was going to pop in after work and grab them. Already have the suitcases done."

"No, no, it's nothing. I saw you had already packed the cases so I thought I'd go and grab them on my break for you." It didn't look like she was about to leave and wanted to ask me something.

"Was there anything else?" I questioned, I could see the conflict in her eyes, she hesitated and then asked her question. It took me by surprise. Why would she want to know?

"Um, look. I don't mean to be rude Kat, honestly, I am so grateful for the help you've given me, but I really do not want to disclose that. I just don't want to risk them finding me again." She gave a sad sigh but nodded in understanding. I softly patted her arm in thanks, hugged her, and grabbed my stuff. Before she left my desk I called her name. "Maybe one day we'll meet again Kat. I really do hope we'll stay friends," giving her a small wave, she gave a big grin and waved back.

I can't believe today was my last day. I was driving out tonight. This box was going straight to donations and my suitcases and I were headed to the airport. Lucerne, here I come. Beautiful, bustling, and busy Lucerne. It was on the other side of the world, German-speaking, and no one will know who I am or my past, or my family. I'll be a completely new person. I'll be, Neri Juliette Moretta. A foreign writer settling down after her travels.

This was going to be bliss. I had been learning German and French since I knew that one day, I was going to have to escape them and be rid of them for good. I was now fluent in reading, writing, and speaking. No one here knew of course. I safeguarded that with my life. Some nights it had made me paranoid. I had no idea why. A recurring dream.

Shaking the thoughts out of my head, I headed out of the office, waved bye to Kat one last time, opened the doors, and walked straight ahead. I had not a single urge to look back. I placed the box in my backseat and slipped into the drivers. Starting up the engine of my 'Sixty-Seven Ford Mustang, I drove off with a Cheshire cat grin on my face.

I headed straight to the Gov Service office and grabbed my name change certificate. As soon as it was in my hands, I brought out my phone, snapped a shot, and emailed it out to everyone that needed it. Next stop, I ducked into a Vinnies to drop off the box of the things I wasn't going to take with me. I then made my way to the passport office to pick that up for my flight, now, off to the airport. On my drive, I contacted all the places I needed to gain confirmation that all my documents and necessities were finalised. They thankfully were without a hitch. Thank goodness. Some luck at last.