Saying Goodbye

6: Here I Come

I opened my eyes, to notice water was surrounding me. I looked down, to see what I was standing on, but nothing. I was walking on water. A strange whisper called out from behind me. It was too faint to be able to make out what they were saying. It became slowly louder. 

"Who's there?" I asked, only to realize I must have been talking to myself. No voice replied. It was quiet for a moment, but then, the voice again.

"Hello?" I asked again, glancing around, attempting to find the sound. Suddenly, I was able to make out what they were saying.  

"Ellie." The voice called. "Ellie, come on!" The voice sounded strangely familiar.

"Who is it?" I asked, waiting for a response, my body began shaking violently. I was thrashed from side to side. 

"Stop! Wait, stop!" I called out, but nothing seemed to stop it. 

"Ellie, wake up! Wake up!" The familiar voice said again. "Wake up!"

*          *          *

"Ellie, wake up!" I recognized the voice. It was Luke. 

"Wait, wait, what's going on?" I asked, opening my eyes. Oh. That was all just a dream? It seemed so... I stopped thinking, and looked up to Luke. 

"So real..." I said, looking back at my hands. I clenched and un-clenched them, reassuring myself that it was all just a dream.

"What?" Luke asked. He looked at me, and then looked back down at my hands. "What are you doing?" He asked me again.

"Oh, nothing." I mumbled, staring straight ahead at the blank popcorn wall in front of me. "Why'd you wake me up so early? It's not even bright outside. It's like five in the morning-" I stopped there, realizing what day it was. 

"It's Friday." Luke moaned, walking off to his room as he began getting some extra things of his.

I stared off in the direction of the door, stunned in thought.

"Well time flies by fast." I said, throwing the covers off and walking into the kitchen.

*          *          *

The bright light of the kitchen blinded me, but slowly, my eyes adjusted. I took a seat at the table, suddenly realizing, I hadn't had a plan. I didn't have a plan for the trip. What was I going to do, just say, 'Oh, sorry, I can't go. I have something more important. Bye.' That would be the dumbest thing ever. Actually, I think now I am the dumbest thing ever. 

"I'm going to go grab my clothes. I'll be right back. By the way, where's mom and dad?" I asked Luke, concerned. 

"They're packing up. I think they went outside to load the car." He replied, as he began stuffing crackers into his mouth while zipping up a backpack.

"Thanks. I mumbled, half to myself, as I walked off to my room to establish a plan.

*          *          *

 I shoved my face into my pillow, lost in thought. Stresses and worries passed through my head as I thought harder, focusing on the task at hand. 

"Okay. I need to figure out how I'm going to leave the house without them seeing." I thought out loud, quietly to myself. "I should pack a bag too. I already mailed in the art, so all I have to do now is-" I stopped, retracing my steps. 

Wait, I never even bothered to talk to Ash or Kennedy. I never told them I was leaving. And I never talked to that boy. I wonder if he ever saw my drawing. I'm sure he did, he looked right at me after I drew it. I thought. "I think I have a plan." I said softly, making sure no one was around to hear me. I paused, waiting to see if I heard any noises - the noises of people peeking. 

It was silent. Good. 

I picked up my carry-on backpack and my suitcase, and began walking towards the window of my room. Since it was a second story apartment, it would be hard to climb out that window, plus there's a screen. 

I wonder if I could maybe climb out that window. It leads down into a small alleyway. It was between this apartment building and the next, so it wasn't that big, but it was enough. I could slip out, and make a ladder. Come to think of it, I have a fire escape ladder under my bed. But as soon as I climb down, I'll have to have some way of getting it unhooked from the windowsill, so I could escape without them knowing how. 

I thought long and hard, knowing there would be some way, some how, I would get out of this mess.

"Good. I have to leave now, before anyone notices." I glanced out the dark window, seeing down all the way to the cement floor of the alleyway.

I took the ladder and began hooking the windowsill, making sure it was nice and tight. I glanced back at the door, seeing as it was closed all the way.

"Goodbye, Mommy and Daddy. Goodbye, Luke. I'll see you sooner or later." I said, before letting a tear roll down my cheek. Preferably sooner than later, I thought. 

"I'll miss you for the long day I'll be gone. And you too, Ash and Kennedy. I'll be back."

I climbed out the window, leaving my room and things as they would normally be, the only things missing were my bags, the ladder, and me. But hopefully, I win. I have to win for my parents. For my friends. For my family. To survive.