Runaway

One Step At A Time

Jess took a deep breath and hit the green call button on her phone. It had been two weeks since she had run away from home after the massive fight with her parents. Almost two weeks of sleeping in shelters, couches, an orphanage, and even a couple nights on the street. She felt she had aged 10 years in that short span of time.

The phone rang once...twice...three times before her mom's worried voice answered. "Hello? Jess? Is that you?"

"Hey mom," Jess said meekly. "It's me."

"Oh thank god!" her mom exclaimed. "Are you okay? Where are you?"

Jess looked around at the small home she was sitting in. "I'm fine mom, I'm safe."

"You had us worried sick!" her mom scolded, though Jess could hear the wave of relief in her voice. "Your father and I have been going crazy trying to figure out where you went."

"I know, I'm sorry," Jess said, fidgeting with a blade of grass. "I just...I needed to get away. The fighting between you and dad became too much mom. I felt like I was being swallowed in my own home"

There was a pause on the other end. "I'm so sorry Jess. Your father and I are going to work on it together. Just please come home. Let us come get you?"

Jess thought about it for a moment. Part of her definitely missed the comforts of home. But she still didn't feel ready to actually return just yet.

"Not yet, okay? I can't come home right now. But I'll check in with you every couple days, I promise. Let you know I'm alright."

She could hear her mom's sigh over the phone. "This isn't how I raised you, just taking off without saying a word like that. You really scared us."

"I know, you're right," Jess admitted. "I'm sorry. I'll make sure to keep talking to you until I'm ready to come back. I just need a little more time."

There were a few moments of silence before her mom spoke again. "Okay, I understand. Just...please be safe sweetie. And come home soon."

"I will mom. I'll call again in a couple days."

They said their goodbyes and Jess hung up the phone, sighing deeply as she gazed across the park. She knew her parents would be relieved to have heard from her, but she also knew they would be counting the days until she was back home. For now though, she just needed this time away to get her head straight, unfettered by the pressures of school, home, and teenage life. One step at a time, she thought to herself. One step at a time.

The End!