Nightmares

S E V E N

I woke up to a branch being snapped. I immediately picked up my pocket knife and held it out incase someone was to intrude or attack. After the one snap, everything fell silent, convincing me that there was someone there. I slowly backed up against the cold brick wall behind me, careful not to make a sound. Then, I froze.
The dream had made me boiling hot, but I could not afford to reach for my drink. I held the knife against my chest, making myself as hidden as possible.

After a while I carefully checked my watch
[4:36am]
Nine minutes had past since I first heard the noise. I tried to scan my surroundings for any signs of life, or for any unusual shapes.

[4.45am]
Still no sign of life. By now, I could have just gone back to sleep, but I knew I couldn't risk it. I discreetly packed up my bags and belongings, and cautiously began to move away from where o heard the noise. Every now and again I would stop, and scan my surroundings, before moving on. Eventually, I reached a dark alleyway. It was short and I had passed through it many times before, so I checked around once again, and ran down the clear alleyway.

I emerged onto a busy road, with cars rushing by, desperate to get home for Christmas, even at this hour. I'll be spending Christmas alone this year. I'm not going back home. I'm never going back, not even to collect my belongings.

My father never did like me. He said I was a mistake. It's not my fault I was born. I wasn't the one to get mum pregnant.
Dad wanted a boy. Someone who would look up to him. Someone who would share his interests. Someone to keep the family name.
Well, it looks like I'll be keeping the family name, as I've been forbidden to marry the one person who accepts me. Forbidden to be happy. As soon as I'm 18, I'm changing my name, so he won't recognise me. So people won't associate me with him. I have it all planned out. I'll call myself "Megan J Parker." The "J" standing for Jane, my grandmothers name.
"Megan J Parker" yes that sounds much better than
"Amanda Clottle"
Such a stupid name. I could just use my mothers maiden name, but then he would recognise it and find me again.
I was never allowed to shorten my name. Never. I always had to be Amanda. Not Mandy, Amanda. Not even 'manda.
Stupid. He's stupid. I hate him. I'm not joking when I say that. I hate him. I hate everything about him. I hate his attitude. I hate his personality. I hate his behaviour. I hate him. His side of the family isn't much better either. Always on about themselves and how brilliant their lives are. Never once have they asked about stupid old Amanda.

That's why I'm here. Stood at the end of an alleyway, facing a busy road, with nothing but a dress, a blanket and a flask. Great. This is really going to turn out perfectly.