The Stolen Heart

BANG!

"Mom! What was what?" I screamed.

"Close your eyes Faith and stay put," my mother demanded "I need you to promise me something, okay?"

"Promise me that if I don't come back in 10 minutes or if you hear another shot being fired, run. Run and dont look back."

"No mom-" I began.

"I love you Faith" she whispered as she kissed my forehead. And before I knew it she got to her feet and stepped out of the closet and clicked the door shut behind her. I pulled my knees to my chest and waited. I waited to hear my mother's light foot steps dawdle up the stairs followed by my fathers heavy ones. But I heard nothing.

There was no sound coming from downstairs, I could literally hear my neck creek if I moved it the slightest bit. I waited for what felt like hours, but I had no way of knowing how much time had passed.

That's when I heard it. An ear pinching scream, undoubtedly my mothers, followed by another BANG.

I knew I needed to get up and run like I had promised but I couldn't. I was frozen, unable to control my body. No matter how many times I pinched myself I couldn't wake myself up. I sat there, in the closet, for God knows how long, until reality set in, this isn't a nightmare.

When I finally came to my senses, I got to my feet, stepped out of my closet and quickly packed my bag. From there, I climbed onto my roof and jumped into my front yard and ran. I ran until I could no longer feel my legs.

I collapsed onto the cold grass and cried. I cried and cried until there were no more tears. In that moment, I decided to change my name, location, and anything else in order to be safe. And in that very moment, promised myself that I would never look back.