Runaway

I pull away,

After what feels like forever. I mean, I wish it was forever. But something just didn't feel right. Mind told me to pull away, body obliged.

All of a sudden, I'm disgusted. Avery's hands wander, but now, I feel dirty. Look at Avery's hands,

Dad's hands.

Avery's face?

Dad's face.

I'm scared.

"Stop..."

He doesn't hear me.

   "Stop! Please!" I'm screaming now, he stops immediately.

   "Maple? What's wrong? Are you okay? I'm sorry, I thought you—"

I must look crazy to Avery, but seriously, I think I am crazy.

   "No! No, it's not you. It's—No. It's nothing. I'm sorry Avery, I think I should go. I wont be at school today." Something's definitely wrong with me.

   "Please, let me take you home. I'm sorry Maple. I love you."

   "I...You don't have to take me home, you'll be late for school. I can walk." Start walking before Avery can say anything. Part of me wants him to chase after me, but it won't happen.

I'm far away now, don't know where I ran to. But lucky me, it starts to snow. First snow of the season, and I'm all alone.

I'm always alone.

I open the door, Mom's sitting in the living room reading a romance novel. So her.

"Maple? I thought you had school, was it cancelled or something? Well anyway, come, sit down. We have a lot to talk about, don't we?"

"Yeah. A lot." I sit across from her. "So, where do you wanna start? Maybe why you never acknowledge me, or never bring me up to relatives, or, maybe, how you left without a word?"

She sighs. "I'm sorry, darling. Truthfully, if I had full custody of you... I'd take you away in a heartbeat." Still didn't explain why she left, but sure, let's keep it going.

"So, why'd you leave? You're being so vague, I can't even tell if what you're saying is the truth."

"Of course I—Ahem." She looks around. Then, locks eyes with me. "I know everything. About how your father... you know. I didn't think you'd like me bringing this up, so I never did." Mom knew? If she knew, why didn't she do anything?"

"Why didn't you do anything? You seriously knew everything Dad did to me, but decided to turn a blind eye? You're sick." I get up from the couch, but she grabs my arm.

"Stay, please. Listen to me, I don't expect your forgiveness, but I at least want you to know everything that I do." I refuse to forgive her. Ever. "He threatened me. He said no one would believe me, and that if I said anything he'd—" She frowns, it's clear she's frustrated, but so am I.

This doesn't seem like something Dad would do, but then again, what would Dad do?

"I'm not sure if he ever brought it up, but my parents never liked me getting married to him. To be honest, I really shouldn't have. But after I found out, I begged to come live with my mother. I would've taken you with me, but it'd just remind me of your father. I thought I could forget about all of my troubles, including you, If I had just spent some time away."

Has she never thought about how I felt? Every time Dad touched me, even the slightest graze made me flinch, I was scared. Helpless, hopeless. Today, I couldn't even look at Avery without seeing Dad.

"I'll ask your father if you can come live with me for a bit. My house isn't far from here, so going to the same school shouldn't be a hassle. I'll have everything arranged for you, so now, your father's approval is what's left."