On The Other Side

Chapter 3 - Stealing Freedom

CLAY
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"George, are you done yet?" I call out to him while swiftly zipping up my backpack.

"No, not yet!" I hear his faint voice from upstairs, and I lean against the couch, glancing at my phone for a moment.

I've reached a breaking point. I'm tired of my dad consistently prioritizing his job over everything else in our lives. The stress on my mom is obvious, and I can't bear to see her being treated like an afterthought or even worse, like trash by my dad.

I yearn for a life free from the suffocating atmosphere at home. I crave an escape, a chance to break away from the chains of this toxic environment.

In my heart, I know that running away is not a simple solution, but it has become an overwhelming desire to seek solace and freedom from this life. The thought of being unburdened, freed from the heavy obligation at home, fills me with hope. I wonder if it's the right path, I'm hoping that I'll find the strength and support to heal the wounds that have haunted our family for too long.

I'm doing this to be free.

Ever since I was little, my dad always told me that I'd be the one to continue what he started. Now that I'm older, he's forcing me to continue his business.

He was hardly ever at home, and we had to move many times because of his crimes. He changed his name multiple times, and I'll always remember the time when people he worked with, who weren't happy with their agreement, came after me and attacked me.

Since that incident, I've changed a lot. I now see my dad in a different light. People think that he kills to protect his family, but it's not true. He kills to protect his wealth.

I used to be excited to carry on his business, but everything changed when his clients attacked me. The physical and emotional wounds from them left a lasting mark on my body and soul.

I feel upset with my mom too. She allows my dad to mistreat her, and I used to think she stayed because of the money. However, as I grow older, I realize it's because of love. No matter how badly he treats her, her love for him never dies.

I can't imagine being so blindly in love with someone.

I have a strong urge for revenge. I know that the money I took from the safe was only a small portion of what he has, but the watch I took was his father's, and the bracelet belonged to his mother.

I don't like putting George in this situation either, but I made a promise to myself to protect him no matter what.

He's not gonna die on my watch.

When I saw him taking a hit of the joint in the storage room, I saw in his eyes that he was different. Even without knowing him, something about him caught my attention. I feel drawn to find out what makes him so fascinating to me.

The sound of a car parking on the driveway startles me. I don't want to talk to my parents, especially with George in the house. My heart races, and I hold my breath for a moment. I take a second to gather myself and my thoughts, then swiftly grab the backpack full of money and dash toward the staircase.

As soon as I disappear from the stairs, the front door opens, and I'm met with a horrified George as my bedroom door flies open. We both freeze upon hearing my parents talking, unsure of what to do next.

With wide eyes, George looks at me, and I signal him to be quiet by placing a finger on my lips. He nods slowly in understanding, and I grip the straps of my backpack tightly as my feet gently glide across the wooden floor, to my room.