Finally Free

Jacob

                      I pause after I say that while waiting for her response. Every year people say the same thing. 'Oh'. and then rave on and on about their amazing life. I look up at her. She opens her mouth and then closes it. She opens it again and then bolts. I have no idea why she is running. Maybe it was something I said? It was the staring, wasn't it? I was too weird for her so she left. That doesn't stop me from chasing her out of the room and to the front of the building. I don't know how she was able to make it out here. The number of twists and turns it took. I call her name. No response. She has to be here. She took the bus. I round the corner and see her leaning against the wall head in her hands.

                      "Hey, are you okay?" I ask. I'm trying to be nice. I hope she hears it in my voice. She opens her mouth again. Then close it. Then shakes her head yes. Yet she's practically in tears. I rushed over to her side. Ask what's wrong. She barely whispers it, but I hear it.

                      "My family," she says. I blow out a breath of relief it's not me. Then She looks at me with a pained look on her face. I don't know what to do.

                     "I need to get to my house," she whispers. I notice how she says her house. Not home.

                   "Hey, I have a car I can drive you there." She violently shakes her head no.

                   "No cars. Ever," she says. I was going to ask why. I wanted to. But she would have told me. If I want to make things right I have to respect her.