Running Away

Chapter 8 Missed Years

John

I had been thinking about how much better life is going to be for nazzie. I could take her to the house I was planning on buying on the other side of Colorado. I was smiling and thinking, things are finally looking up. When nazzie's words broke into my thoughts, "uhm.. Bubby.. Can I tell you something?" I thought her voice was trembling slightly.
"Sure anything. What is it sis?" I said, my voice sounding soft and a little happy.
She stayed quiet for a minute as if she was contemplating what to say. I stayed quiet letting her think. Finally after a couple minutes of silence she spoke. It was little more than a whisper but I could hear her. "When... When you left the house... He started abusing me... He held me down and hurt me. He enjoyed pain. He would choke me. And... And he raped me so many times.... In the beginning he just started with being handsy... Then he.. He started taking off my clothes. Grinding against me... And kissing me roughly... He made me feel gross. Made me touch him... After I disobeyed him so many times he took out a knife and started hurting me... He wouldn't cut deep so I didn't scar.. But this last time... I had tried to run away from him.. And he pushed me down. Cut me. And made the big gash on my leg so I couldn't run. When you came in I... I..." at this point she started to cry and I handed her a handkerchief I had in my pocket. I kept silent because I knew she wanted to say more. After a minute she spoke again. "I was so happy when I saw you.. I thought that you had to be a hallucination... When I saw you get hurt I felt so useless... Like I couldn't do anything to help you... And I realized what you were doing. You wanted me to get away.. When you were knocked out by him I tried to run.. But he dragged me back.. He made me scream... When you faced him again after being beaten up.... I'm so sorry... I couldn't do anything but run..." she burst into sobs again and I reached over pulling her to the center and held her in a one armed hug as she curled up into me. I kissed the top of her head trying to choke back tears. "It's ok. I'm here now... I'm just glad your safe." I said in a rough voice. "We have only a little more to go to get to town. To get to freedom..." and with a second to think I added, "You're the strong one for living through all that. I know I couldn't have done it." she wiped away her tears with my handkerchief and shook her head, "no... If I were strong I would have done something... I should have done something..."
Holding her close I said, "You did all you could. You are strong. You are my baby sister." I kissed her head again and kept driving. "Twelve more miles and were safe."