Pleasing my Destiny

Prologue

The smell of the forest had a pleasant, musky scent to it. I could hear the rustling of trees, grass, and leaves as we passed through them. Everything was slow, I could see the branches waving with the wind, I could feel the pricks of the twigs scraping against my skin, the crunch of earth beneath my feet, and it was all so surreal. Then reality set in, and all of a sudden it wasn't so pleasant anymore. I could feel my heart racing with every step I took, and my legs burning with the need to stop, but I didn't stop. I wish I could go with my body's wish, but I knew what would happen if I did, so I continued to run with all my might.

My stepfather was running on my trail, a couple feet behind me. I could hear him panting, and gasping for air, but that didn't slow him down. I kicked my feet even harder and ran faster, gaining more room between us. I looked behind me and saw that in his hand held a knife. I don't want to think of what would happen if he caught me, I feel so helpless, so vulnerable.

I don't know how our lives led to this; I love him. He is the perfect dad, no, was the perfect dad. I could go to him for anything, he accepted me. Everything I ever thought of him ended today when he hit my mother. They started fighting, I don't know what about. Nick took her by the wrist, stopping her and slapped her across the face. I fear he would have done more if I did not step in and knock him down, giving my mother and I enough time to run. I don't know where my mother ran off too; I'm just hoping she's long gone and away from this murderous beast.

I couldn't run for much longer, I was already slowing down a little bit with every other step I took. My legs are going to give out on me. I needed to find a place to hide, and I knew he was far enough behind that he wouldn't be able to see me once I turn because of the densely populated forest, so I did turn, and once I did I saw some tall grass I could hide behind. I ran with the rest of my power towards it and once I got to it, I fell to my knees with exhaustion. I could hear myself panting loudly, so I covered my mouth with my hand in hopes of quieting myself down. I saw a pair of black steel toe boots come just a few feet away from me and step back and forth. He was so close I could see his knife shining brightly from the sun.

"Oh, Karina." I heard Nick call out in a taunting voice. "Come out, come out wherever you are!" I could just imagine the evil smirk he was giving at the moment. "Come on out, I won't hurt you, you are, after all, my dolphin." I suddenly thought back to when he first made up that nickname. We were at Marine world and the only thing I would want to look at where the dolphins. That day on, I was his little dolphin. I could feel a hot wet tear run down my cheek, and I watched it land on a leaf of a plant, and roll down its tip and fall into the dirt. He would have been happy knowing I shed a tear for him, but he won't know, he won't see. Nick can't have that privilege.

After a few painful minutes of mumbling words under his breath, and kicking his feet into the ground, he turned around and ran. He has never had the skill of patience. I couldn't stand just yet. I don't have the energy, and my legs are numb and like noodles at the moment. So I sat there, praying that my mom is safe and far away from here.

I remember one night, not too long ago when my mother and Nick were at the kitchen counter. I was hiding behind a corner, just listening to them talk. They both had a cup of coffee in their hands, but Nick put his down and grabbed my mother's and put hers down as well. He took her hand and led her to the middle of the kitchen and started dancing with her. They danced without any music for nearly an hour, I sat there and watched. I wanted a relationship like there's, I admired them. My mother was laughing and smiling, her eyes bright with love, while Nick just smiled and watched her, admiring her laugh, her smile, everything about her.

I remember when my father died, my mother could not stop crying for days, and she was so depressed and was a lifeless shell after that. However, when she met Nick at the Grocery store, she had a flicker of light in her eyes. That was a year after my dad died, and a year after that they were married. They were happy; I don't know what went wrong.