Amazing Grace (Harry Styles)

Chapter 1: Running

I walk in my house, hoping to avoid him at all costs. Scanning the room, its quiet, and he's nowhere to be seen. I urn to shut the door behind me and lock it. But when I turn around, I find my father right behind me.

I jump and place a hand over my chest, trying to regain my breath control. "Dude, what the hell?" I ask as I walk past him. "Scared me half to death," I mutter.

"Where've you been," he asks taking the cigar out of his mouth and blowing a puff of smoke into the air.

"Out, and for Christ sakes, can you take that outside," I say clogging my nose and making my way upstairs. I don't feel like dealing with his shit today. As I'm reaching the top of the stairs he calls me back down.

"ABIGAIL, GET YOUR LAZY ARSE DOWN HERE!

My eyes roll to the back of my head as I begin to walk downstairs.

"Worthless piece of shit. . ." he adds.

I storm down the stairs.

"What the fuck do you want," I rage. ""Youhave no right to talk to me that way. And it's funny that you say thatbecause you do nothing but sit on the couch all fucking day. Who's paying the bills? Not you," I almost laugh. "Mom is paying the bills and she's not even alive."

"Don't you dare talk to me like that. I'm your father, have some bloody respect," he says putting down his beer bottle. Hmm, that's a first. "You live in my house," he yells.

"Oh really? Father? I could have sworn you were just a guy who stayed here. Do you honestly think that means a damn thing to me? You don't care for me! You don't love me! You sure as hell didn't love mom," I scoff.

And before it's too late to take the words back, he has struck me across the face. I gasp and hold my hand to my face.

I chuckle. "Did you like that? Did you enjoy slapping your kid in the face? I hope you like being alone as well, because you won't have anybody in your life!" I start to yell. "You will have no one!"

"What the hell do you mean by that."

I don't answer his question but instead run up the stairs.Ifeel the tears fall from eyes. Not sentimental tears, though. Angry ones. I grab a duffel bag from under the bed. It had clothes and condiments, etc. It was already packed of course. I would be a fool to stay here any longer. I can find a way to live on my own at age 17. It's not impossible.

I got a small backpack and threw some extra stuff in there just in case and grabbed the little money I had.

I didn't have a phone so, he would not be able to contact me and there's nobody else I really talk to. I have a tablet though, so I bring that along. Obviously it was not from my father. It was a gift from my mother before she passed. Another thing I got from her was a charm bracelet and I wore it all the time no matter what. From her will I had also inherited some things and a little bit of money. Not much though. Although, I did get more than my father got.

I put on a hooded jacket even though it was warm outside. Taking a final look around my room I grabbed a pillow and put my book bag on and the duffel bag on across my left shoulder.

I went down the stairs and took the back way to the kitchen so I wouldn't have to cross paths with my father. I opened the fridge and took a few water bottles and some food and placed it in my book bag. Then I exited through the back door and then ran from the backyard to the front and out of the neighborhood.

Once I was about a mile from the neighborhood I stopped running and knew there wasn't a very likely chance my father would come and find me. After walking for so long I was tired and got out a water bottle I considered trying to find a cab but I needed to save as much money as I could knowing it wouldn't last very long. I started running again after a while, wanting to get there as soon as possible.

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In about 30 minutes time I heard a train whistle making its way to the station. I walked in the station and the cool air felt so good in that moment of time. I wanted to plop down right there in the chairs they had in the waiting area. Unfortunately I couldn't do that just yet, so I dragged myself to the counter.

"Hi, how can I help you?"

"Could I get a ticket to New York City?" I say out of breath.

"Yes. The next train to leave for New York is in ten minutes. You've come just in time."

"Great, how much would that be?"

"You're a single rider, correct?"

"Yes." It isn't obvious?

"OK," she says dragging the word out her eyes scanning on her computer. When she finally finds what she was looking for she says, "That will be $92.59"

I guess it's not that bad, considering the circumstances.

I hand over the money and she hands me a ticket and receipt. I sign my name and she directs me to the luggage area. I finally finish and sit down, and what feels like in two seconds, they are calling the train that I am to get on, over the intercom.