Love Me Better

1 | Miami

CUBA, HAVANA

I have never thought I would actually succeed.

I thought I would've been trapped my whole life.

Those seven months of planning to escape from Dalian paid off. It took beatings, tears, and fear to get where I'm at now. I had fresh cuts all over my legs and arms. I was in so much pain, but the pain was worth it.

Maria, my maid has helped me through all of this. She was the one who even got me a passport to leave him. I knew I owed my life to her.

I didn't had a lot of stuff to pack. He burnt most of my clothes, and items that was precious to me. I had three of my clothes, counting the one I'm wearing right now. Maria did pack me some food, and enough money to hold me for a month.

I knew once I run away from this house, I was on my own.

Dalian wasn't in the country as of right now. Maybe that's why it was easy enough. Too easy that I feel slightly uneasy.

His men saw me, they was chasing me down, so why do I only hear my footsteps now? I can hear my heart beating heavily. I didn't know whether to look behind, or keep going. I should've looked behind and stopped, but I kept running instead.

Running where my destination was.

'Go to that pink building that's near the mansion, he would be waiting for you there.'

It was many colorful buildings in Cuba, she was lucky I knew which building she was talking about. And the location that she wanted me to go wasn't near at the mansion at all.

I slow down my pace as I looked around. It was very dark, to the point if someone sneaked up on me, I wouldn't even notice it.  I heard footsteps, I couldn't figure out where exactly. I kept looking around, "...Hello?" my voice came out shaky.

"Hello, are you Miss Catalina?" I whipped my head to the left. I saw a man, I couldn't see his face exactly. I stayed quiet instead of answering his question.

He was leaning against the wall, "I'm Diego, I hope Maria at least gave my name to you."

I took a deep breath before speaking, "Can... we stand in the light instead?" I pointed to the direction where it was light. Diego didn't say anything, he walked over there with no complainants.

I walked over to Diego, as I got closer I could see his face better. He looked around my age, I wonder how Maria knows him?

"Much better, mind asking where's the car to take me to the airport?"

He clears his throat at my question "Right, it's over there." He looks up and down at me before turning around. He begins to walk where the car was.

I followed him from a far, I trusted Maria but not him so much.

I trust him enough to take me to the airport.

Diego opens the door to the car, "Ladies first." I gave a small 'thank you' before getting in.

As I put my seatbelt on, he turns the car on. I looked out the window, I knew this would be the last time to see my home.

I won't get to see my beautiful city again, and I definitely won't be seeing the people I love.

This is for the best. I cannot get caught, I cannot look back, I cannot go back.

He turns on the radio. "Sorry if this is rude but, how did you get all of those cuts and bruises?" He asked, sounding concerned.

How could I tell this man 'the bruises was from my so called husband, it was all from the punishments. All the times that I would beg him to not beat me up, to not corrupt my body, to not hurt my soul.' But I wasn't going to say that.