Letters From A Stranger |COMPLETE|

Part 13

Signature: absent. He never once even said my name. And how dare he accuse me of taking his money? I never once asked for any. Yes I pled for Carson's help, but he offered to come and pick me up. He led me to believe he was interested in me and I went with it. Of course I wanted him. Of course I thought something good would come out of us together. Of course I thought he'd saved me. Of course I thought I loved him.

My life: spiraled down deeper than it's ever been. Talk about an all time low. I spend the entire night weeping. But in the end, I don't blame him. I blame myself. After all, I somehow must've deserved this, right?

School: ditched. For once, I don't go to school because I'm too broken to even get out of bed. I don't eat or drink a thing all day. Christy prevents me from prolonging my stay on my mattress, though. At first she hadn't noticed I'd even been home all day. She didn't pretend to care much that I had, though, which came at somewhat a surprise to me. However, no matter how swollen my eyes are from crying, she shouts till dinner is complete.

Social services: appears a week later. The house is spotless by then. Christy so happens to be without a drink in her hand when the woman approaches the door. When I announce who's here, she hurries to change her clothes before allowing me to let her inside.

The meeting: goes well. My bruises were gone, as I'd expected, so there was no sign of injury obviously. Christy floats on by the eyes of the law, but not me.

My plan: leaving here in two days. I don't have a destination, but I know it won't be here. Besides, I don't think Christy could pull off another missing persons report. She can't take anyone else's money, either.

School: attended. Ms. C and I have a discussion after class and I tell her some of my ideas so that if I do wind up on the edge of that bridge, at least someone will know where I ended up.

New ideas: what she brings to the table. One in particular makes my head spin. "Would you feel comfortable staying with me for a while?"

Previous thoughts: taken back. Ms. C isn't a constant stickler for the rules. And she does care.

My eyes: light up. I beg for her new offer the minute she presented it to me. "I'd do anything. Please, Ms. C."

Agreement: what we come to. "Give me a few days Haley. I can put together a bed for you and I'll find-" I hug her. Never before have I hugged someone like that. Out of gratitude. Thankfulness. Relief. Hope. She did it all. What cheers me up most, is when she hugs me back.

A few days: easy. I can wait for that.

In hiding: what I consider I am. Secretly, I put together some shirts and pants and set them aside. It's merely a waiting game now. I can handle waiting, as long as Christy doesn't find a reason to kill me prior, which wouldn't exactly be difficult for her.

The classroom: the location we discuss the future. Ms. C tells me how she's borrowing a friend's blowup mattress until she can find arrangements that a little more permanent. I like the way she talks about me staying with her. She makes everything feel easy and good. She takes my mind off of the negative and gives me a positive goal. Two days left and I'll be with someone who's been more of a mother to me than anyone else in the entire world. I honestly can't wait to start a new life. Everything will change.

Certain times: she brings up Carson. I talk to her about the recent letters and she seemed to be nothing less than appalled. I couldn't agree more.

At home: Christy complains. Stumbles around the house drunk, rambling on about how her beer is all being paid for and she couldn't be happier. That makes two of us. No physical harm tonight, and I'm thankful I won't be limping tomorrow when I escape into the night with Ms. C.