The Cost Of Love (Bxb, Rape, Abuse)

Escape To Where?

Six hours later when he reached the North Carolina border and decided to get out at the welcome center and stretch his legs. As he stepped out of the car he lit a cigarette and the smell of fresh air after a good rain greeted him. He soaked in the fresh aroma as he walked toward the main building and for a moment forgot that he was running away from an abusive, crazy boyfriend.

Austin decided to buy a guide for I-95 from the magazine rack and figure out what he wanted to do for dinner. He finished up his cigarette and made his way back to the car to head back off down the high way.

The exit he decided for the best restaurant was less than twenty miles away. He pulled off the exit ramp and on to the main road he took on the abundance of places to eat. There was everything from Lone Star to McDonalds. He finally decided to try a place called Hardee's, he'd never heard of them. He took his food over to a corner booth. Unbidden Eric came to mind; he pictured his reaction when he came home and found that he had run away. Guilt crashed into him. Eric was the only person he could rely on; he had taken care of him and sacrificed so much for him over the years. Austin brought his hand to his split lip that burned from the salt of the ketchup touching it. They had been good once, but all of the good was gone, he reminded himself.

He finished his meal; dusk was starting to set in. Georgia was his new goal before he had to stop; the more miles between he and Eric the better. He had only been driving an hour when he ran into one of the negatives of the deep south; a powerful thunderstorm. He dropped his speed and accepted he would have to stop before he reached Georgia.

The further he drove the worse the rain got and the more his nerves frayed. He rounded a bend and saw flashing lights. When he got closer it was a highway patrol car detouring people off of the highway due to an accident. Austin pulled off in a panic; he had no clue where to go. He figured that if he made a left and simply stayed south that he would see signs to get back on I-95. Unfortunately he saw no signs and soon Austin became horribly lost. He tried to turn around, but all the roads looked the same in the dark. Austin was on the verge of a panic attack when he saw a sign for Levy six miles ahead. When he saw the lights of the local bar called the Watering Hole he felt himself relax a bit. He decided it was a great place to stop, he needed a drink.

He pulled up, it was an old country bar. Completely unlike like the ones he was used to in Philadelphia, but he needed to find his way back to the highway. When he entered the bar it was nearly empty. There were two guys off to the right playing pool in the pool room and about five others sitting at the bar. When Austin walked in everyone looked at him. He got the feeling that this was the type of town where everyone knew everyone and strangers were recognized immediately as such. He took a seat at the bar and the bartender walked over to him and smiled.

"Hey there, I haven't seen you here before. What can I get for you?" Austin put the woman in her thirties; she was clad in a tee shirt and jeans.

"I need to know how to get back to I-95 south." Austin replied trying to keep his voice down so as not to draw attention.

"Well hunny, you'll make a left outta the parkin lot and then a left on Levy Road, that'll take you back to I-95." She said with a full wattage smile and a melodic southern accent. Her familiarity with him wasn't jarring; the bartender oozed an easy, comforting companionship.

"Thank you very much." Austin hated how stilted he sounded given her friendly manner.

"You're welcome hun. Do you want anything else before you go?"

"Sure I'll take a Bud Lite, please."

"Comin' right up." She located the bottle and twisted the cap off, placing the bottle down with a wink.

Austin sat back, and soaked in the atmosphere of this little country bar. The few patrons conversed with one another and he listened as they spoke about their lives. It was easy to lose himself at the fringe of their world, feeling unfettered as he did, he was able to enjoy his beer for the first time in a very long time. When he looked up from the bar at the clock it was almost mid-night. He figured that he would ask the bar tender if she knew of any motels around.

"Excuse me ma'am, I hate to bother you, but do you know of any motels around?"

"Aw hun you're not botherin' me and by the way it's Shelly not ma'am. The only place around here is the local motel on Levy road. It's literally right around the corner. Would you like me to call them for you?" Shelly offered.

"No you don't have to do that I'll just head right over there." Austin said as he got up from the bar stool, handing her the money for his beer and a tip.

"Okay well you have a good night." Shelly said as she turned back to the other customers.

Austin was in shock at how nice she had been to him. Mrs. Steinbach and now Shelly, two people looked at him and made him feel seen. He decided things were looking up, but when he got in his car and tried to start it nothing happened. No lights no dinging no nothing, so much for looking up; he didn't know this town or anyone around here. The only thing he could do was to go back inside and ask Shelly if there was an auto shop around.

"Hey hun back so soon?" Shelly greeted him.

"Yeah, I'm sorry but my car won't start and I was wondering if you knew of an auto shop around?" Austin asked.

"Mike's garage is right across the street but he doesn't open till eight."

"Okay thanks again, you said the hotel is right around the corner?"

"Sure is. Would you like me to call there? I'm sure they could come and get you." Shelly said as she started wiping down the bar.

"No thank you. I only have one suitcase and it's doesn't sound like a far walk." Austin said as he walked out the door.

He grabbed his suitcase from the trunk and the pack of smokes from the glove box and started toward Levy Road. Shelly was right the motel was right around the corner.

It was a rustic motel with a neon green vacancy sign. From the outside it didn't look like anything special. It was a single level motel with what looked like a house in the middle, where he guessed the owners lived. He approached the office it looked as if the place was closed, but as he walked to the glass double doors the light inside came on and an elderly woman appeared.

"Good evening young man, how can I help you?"

"Evening ma'am, I would like one room please."

"Okay. That'll be thirty five dollars and check out time is three." The woman said as she turned toward the key board. "Would you like a receipt?" she asked as she handed him a key to room 5.

"No thank you ma'am." Austin said as he put the key in his pocket.

"If you need anything feel free to ring this bell."

"Thank you very much and have a good night." Austin said as he turned and exited the office.

When he opened the door to his room he noticed that it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. There was a queen sized bed on the wall and a table with two chairs by the plate glass window. After he set his suitcase down he took a long shower remaining under the spray for nearly an hour. He did not have to rush; there was no list of Eric's demands to complete. He was proud of himself for getting so far; he had faced his fears and not turned back. He climbed into bed tired but still to wound up to sleep. He turned on the TV and channel surfed until he came on a marathon of his favorite show, Three's Company. Austin watched a few episodes before sleep finally took over him.

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Longer part enjoy.