TO BE FORGOTTEN

Chapter 5

As we head to dinner, I give my sister the finger-to-the-lip so that she stays quiet. As we enter the dining room, I tell Ms. Anne that I am sorry about everything. I can't help but feel impatient for her to get up and go to the bathroom.

Eventually, she excuses herself to go to the bathroom, and Tara and I make a run for it. As we go through the window, I grab my bag. I don't dare miss a second as I leave quickly.

We arrive at the bus stop 10 minutes later. Tara is playing with her doll, while I look at the bus schedule. Luckily for us, the bus came in five minutes. I pay the bus driver and sit with Tara in the fourth row.

"When will we get there?" She asks wearily.

"It'll be a while" I reply, "It's going to be the whole night so why don't you get some rest," I pat my shoulder and she leans on me.

She looks up at me and I realize for the first time the tears in her eyes. I realize that she is as scared as I am. It takes me a while to calm down and tell myself that Ms. Anne won't come and find us.

When the bus leaves, I get calmer but I know that she will come after us and that whatever needs to be done needs to be done quicker.