Run Away

Nightmares

I smiled as the man took the picture.

“Okay,” he said, “‘Jake’ come here to take a picture.”

Jacob smiled when the picture was taken.

When the licenses were processed, the guy gave it to us.

Jacob got his old one and tore it up. He threw it into a bush. We went inside his car. “Motel, here we come,” he sighed.

Jacob went to an ATM and maxed out his mother’s credit card, and then he threw it away. He went inside that car with his hands full of money.

“Aren’t you stealing?” I asked.

“No, my mom gave me her credit card when she was drunk,” he smiled.

He drove to an old motel and checked us in.

“Two beds or one, Mr. Watterson?” the man asked.

“One –”

“Two,” I interrupted. The man gave me the keys and made the payment.

Our room smelt old. Two beds were side by side with a desk in between.

“Two?” Jacob cocked an eyebrow.

“Yes, two is better than one.”

“Not if one is cheaper…” he sighed.

“Sorry…”

I went on the bed and lay down. I looked at the clock. It was 9:00pm. I wonder if my family found out I was gone and cared.

Jacob lay down next to me.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I wonder if they found out…”

“Don’t think about it…it was your choice.”

“Gee, great way to cheer me up…” I mumbled and closed my eyes.

“It’s true…” he hugged me.

I fell asleep in his arms.

I woke up around three am. Jacob was screaming and waving his arms around.

“Jacob!” I screamed and shook him.

He fell off the bed and curled up into a ball.

“Jacob!” I patted his cheek, “It’s me, Dessie!”

He stopped screaming and began to breathe regularly. He opened his eyes slowly.

“Dessie?” He asked.

“Yeah, wake up…” I smile at him.

“I was in this black void with memories of my mother abusing me…” he said quietly, “You came in and you were dressed in white…like an angel…”

“Was I in every dream you had?” I asked him.

“You screaming, no; but you as an angel, yes.”

“Angel…huh…” I smile.

“That’s how I got your name…Angel,” he yawned softly.

I laughed quietly.

“Go back to sleep, my Guardian Angel,” he patted my cheek.

“Huh?” I asked.

“You saved me the day we became best friends…” he smiled.

“Now go to sleep, big boy,” I laugh.

“Be ready for the next one…” he sighed.

I helped him up.