Going Nowhere

Run For Your Life - Prologue

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This is hella old

Excuse the mistake

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He left when I was seven years old, but I remember it like he walked out yesterday.

I hopped off the bus and waved goodbye to Jim, the bus driver. Then, with a thousand watt smile brightening my expression, I skipped down the sidewalk towards my house.

Today had been such a good day! First, I had a spelling test on animals, and I got all the words right. Then, for show and tell, I brought in the bowl I'd made with my dad last week. Everyone thought it was really pretty, and I couldn't wait to tell my dad. We had spent hours shaping it out of clay, baking it, painting it, and then firing it.

I hopped up the front steps of my house, and I pushed into the front door. I dropped my L.L. Bean backpack next to the shoe mat and called out for my parents. "Mom? Dad?" I walked through the house, searching for them, but then I heard voices coming from upstairs.

I scrambled up the steps, eager to spill the amazing news to my dad, but when I burst through their bedroom door, I stopped dead in my tracks. My dad was throwing his clothes into a suitcase, and my mom was leaned against a wall, sobbing.

"What's wrong?" I asked, my seven-year-old eyes widening in confusion.

"This is why I wanted to be gone!" my dad roared at my mom, completely ignoring my question. "I didn't want Lindsay to see this!"

"Didn't want Lindsay to see what?" I cried, and my mom started to weep even harder.

"He's leaving us, baby," my mom wailed, "He's abandoning us!"

"Don't you dare!" my dad growled, pointing at my mom. "Don't you dare make me into the bad guy when you were in the wrong!" My dad zipped up his suitcase and grabbed his briefcase from the top of the dresser. Then, he pushed past me, and I heard him stomping down the stairs.

I glanced over at my mom in horror, but she just slid down the wall, crying. I heard the front door slam, and I jumped. I turned and sprinted down the stairs, taking them two at a time. I burst out of the front door and called out to my dad. "Wait!" I screamed, "Don't go!"

He slammed his car trunk shut, and I ran over to him and tugged at this hand. "Please don't leave," I begged, tears rolling down my cheeks. "Daddy, don't go, please! I promise I'll be good. I promise!"

My dad sighed and knelt down to my level. "This isn't your fault, Lindsay. I just can't stay here, but I hope I'll see you again, Sweetheart. And, when that day comes, I hope you understand why I had to do this." He kissed me on the forehead and then stood up, letting go of my hand in the process.

I watched in silence as he got into his car and revved it. Then, with tears clouding my vision, he pulled out of the driveway. "Wait!" I yelled, not wanting him to leave. I started chasing after his car as he drove away, thinking that maybe if I caught up to him, my dad would see how much I needed him to stay here with me, my mom, and my older brother, Connor.

I stopped only when he disappeared from the street and out of my life.

"Lindsay?"

I turned around slowly to see Connor standing on the sidewalk, home from school. If only he'd gotten here sooner. Then, maybe he could've helped me keep our dad from leaving.