To Save a Life

Sanctuary

It was 8:30 in the morning and I could hear the yelling two houses down.
"Where is your brother?!"
I started running towards the house. As I neared it, the front door burst open and my little sister came running out.
'Nathan you're safe!" Angel cried as she ran into my stomach to wrap herself around me.
Then, "You are right?" She asked as she looked up at me.
"Im better than yesterday." I said. I couldn't lie to angel. She was the only one still around who cared for me.
"Get in here now young man!!" Demanded my mother.
Angel and I walked through the door, and a slap to the back of my head sent me to the floor on all fours.
"Hey!" Cried Angel, as she started for me. But our mom pushed her back and she landed on her ass.
"You kept us up all night worrying. How could you?" My mom demanded. "Bull." I said. "You probably didnt even notice I was gone until this morning."
"How dare you!" Our mom screamed. "If you'regonna be like that, why bother coming home?!"
"Fine!" I shouted. "Maybe I'll go then!"
"Where would you go?" Our mother laughed. "You don't have any friends."
"Maybe I'll go find dad!" I said.
Our mother laughed again. "You don't even know where he is! Or if he's even a nice person!"
"He's gotta be nicer than you, especially with you drunk and abusive all the time!" Then I said something that if I hadn't, things probably would've been alright.
"Was that why he left?! Because you're drunk and cruel?"
"Dont talk that way to me you little shit!" She screamed as she slapped me across the face. "Get out!"
"Mommy no!" Cried Angel. "Dont make him leave!"
I was standing in the doorway, debating. I wanted nothing more than to out of here forever. But I couldn't leave Angel. I couldn't waste this last chance I'd giving life feeling guilty over her and alone without her. My decision however, was made for me.
"Take the brat with you!" My mom shouted shoving Angel out the door. She would've fallen and broken her nose had I not caught her. I grabbed her hand and we ran.

***
Next to Grace Cathedral was a small hidden pocket park. The entryway was marked by two angel statues. Past them was a single path that led a few yards to a bench and table. All around were many kinds of plants hiding you the church, so you almost forgot where you were.
This is where I brought Angel. I had come here often, making this my place to go when I needed to escape my mom. But this was the first time I hadn't been in here alone.
"Are we gonna live here?" Angel asks me, her green eyes looking up at me. "No silly." I reply. "My friend is meeting us here."
"You gots a friend?!" She exclaimed hopefully.
"I hope so, I reply.
Twenty minutes later, Kaitlin's head and shoulders pop around the corner at the entrance. "Nathan?" She called.
"Over here!" I call back.
She walks over to us and Angel looks up at her.
"Are you Nathan's friend?" She asks. What's your name.
"Kaitlin." Kaitlin answers, smiling.
"I'm Angel." Angel says.
"Nice to meet you Angel." Then to me she says. "So what is this place?"
"A garden I found one day years ago when I was hiding from my mom. I cone here all the time now. No one hardly comes here. So it's a good place to.." but then I trail off, unsure of what to say.
"To think." She finishes for me. I nod. "A sanctuary."
"What?" I ask.
"Sanctuary." She says. "A place if refuge and comfort. A safe place. Like an island in a stormy sea."
"Oh." I say. "I suppose.."
We're silent for a while, and then I ask, "Can.. can we stay at your place for a while?"
"Of course." She say. "But first, I wanna share a story."