The Wallflower's Secret

Chapter One: Saying Goodbye

*****
Marcel came and off we went. The poor guy, I could feel the pain rolling off his body and poisoning the air. He was a nice man, mid-40's, greying hair with a nice well trimmed beard he kept up to date with daily. He was apologising profusely about not being there to help and how he couldn't convince my father that his friend was lying.

"It's not your fault so stop blaming yourself." I felt the need to comfort him. He was always kind to me growing up. He was hired when I was about two years of age. Always played with me when my parents couldn't, snuck me treats during the night and was a person I felt comfortable with sharing my secrets. Marcel was family, not by blood but by choice and I deeply regret involving him into this mess, my mess.

With a sigh of absolute devastation and sadness, I tried my best to give him a smile. Even if it was small and wobbly and unconvincing. I prided myself in my effort and from the look in his eyes, he understood my feelings at the moment.

"Where are you taking me?" I looked through the windshield, trying to decipher where on earth he was taking me.

"I don't know." He dejectedly said whilst turning a left than a right before making another left. After a while he pulled the car over and parked before taking the key out of the ignition.

I watched as this once strong man slump forward, body tense and head in hands. Glancing his way, I felt guilt rack my body. He had tried so hard and it got him nowhere. No one could tell my day anything because no matter what happened, he would always believe his best friend.

"Young miss. Where would you like to go?" I had no clue how to answer. Georgia was all I knew, I grew up here and never thought I'd venture out of this place in this fashion. A shrug of my shoulders showed the predicament I was facing, that we were both facing.

We sat there a while, watching as cars roll by. I tried to think of where to go or who would even have me and I came up with no one. My aunt who lived downtown was rather snobbish and chose to ignore my pleas when I asked her for help. "He is a good man, you shouldn't accuse him of something so vile." Before she threw me out of her house. I know without s shadow of a doubt, she won't help me now.

My grandparents were much the same. They knew Rick when he was a child, practically raised him as a child, and didn't believe me when I told them. I thought my grandparents would at least provide some insight or help for my situation but ignored me as well.

I had other relatives but in my hour of need, they chose to ignore me instead of help. So I was really alone in this world. No one to rely on, no money in my hand, no back up plan to go with. I had nothing but the clothes on my back and whatever belongings my parents shoved in my backpack. Which wasn't much. Just a few random pairs of shirts and pants, a coat and all this small things left on my dresser table.

Tears pricked the corners of my eyes as I truly felt the loneliness set in. Actually, I wasn't alone. I had Marcel, who without a shadow of a doubt, believed me. Wholeheartedly. He stuck by my side and he always has. He was the rock I needed in my shitty life and I thank whoever is out for bringing him to work for my family.

I felt the engine roar to life before the car speed down the road. "Where are we going?" I inquired and he simply smiled. With a confused stare I watched as we stopped in front of the airport.

"What are-" he cut me off by opening his door by doing the same to me. He dragged me along and I followed like a lost puppy, cause I was lost.

Marcel walked with determined strides and a concentrated look before stopping in front of the women's bathroom and gently pushing me inside. "Clean yourself up. I will be right back." He turned and strode away, stopping a few times to let people pass. With a shrug, I did what was asked.

The bathroom was super clean with multiple toilets, sinks and a long 8 foot mirror. Placing my bag above the sink, I paused at my reflection. Dried up blood was smeared lightly across my cheek, a dark purple bruising starting to begin to show on the back of my neck and my hair in a knotted ponytail and matted with blood. No wonder I was getting looks on my way inside.

I glared at my reflection before grabbing a few things from my back pack. Firstly, I washed the blood off my face, ignoring the sting from the cut before washing my hair, cringing when I had to use to hand wash to get the matted bit of blood out but it was better than nothing. Wringing all the excess water out, I stood and started to brush the brown locks, being careful of the cut.

I looked much better now. Less beaten, more rejuvenated. I left my hair out to cover the bruising and changed my dirtied top red top to a long sleeve black one. Changing from shorts to jeans and throwing the only coat on, which luckily was my favourite, tan-coloured and almost knee length. I looked much better than before. With a newfound confidence, I walked out the bathroom.

Marcel was waiting near the entrance with a ticket and small purse which probably cost him a fortune from the gift shop. He took in my appearance and I smiled. Once in front of him, he gave me both items.

"Here. I have an aunt who lives in Michigan, she's a sweet old woman, a little overbearing but she's fine. I told her your situation" I glared at him. "I know I shouldn't of but she knew something was bothering me and I thought she could help." He held his hands in the air with a very apologetic look. I sighed and shrugged.

"Who cares." Marcel looked relieved.

"She will be waiting when you arrive there. You'll know it's her because although small, she's pretty feisty and more than willing to take you in. Hell, she wanted you weeks ago when I told her but I didn't think it would get this far." He sounded dejected at the end of his sentence.

"It's okay. Like I said, this isn't your fault so stop looking so glum." I took the ticket and the purse. It was a faux leather and plain black, slightly bigger than a coin purse but smaller than a wallet. Looking inside, I was shocked to see a big wad of cash. I tried to refuse but he shoved it back in my hands.

"I have no kids, no wife and my aunt is my only family. This money is nothing. I have more." Marcel acted like this was nothing but to me it meant everything. He chose to help me when he didn't have too, he was always there for me.

Before bursting into tears, I threw my arms around his shoulders and cried into the crook of his neck. He rubbed my back, caressed my hair and even whispered sweet nothings into my hair until I calmed down. With a smile, I linked my arm with his and he took walked me through the terminal until I got to security.

One more glance at him, I wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my head on his shoulder.

"Thank you." I whispered before letting go.

With a sad smile, he kissed my forehead like he used to when I was little and gently pushed me on my way. One final wave and a thumbs up from him, I disappeared around the corner. Ready to start my life. A new life with a stranger who seemed to care.

Goodbye Georgia... for now at least.
*****

I don't know if this is any good but hopefully it doesn't suck. I completely wrote this 3 times because I thought it wasn't ready but my brain is having a meltdown with the amount of words it's seeing on such a small screen lol.

Hopefully, this is good enough for now and I'll try to get better at this writing thing. I haven't written in years and I forgot I wanted to write something like this. So....

Thanks for reading.

Tarpz xx