Run to You

1

I'm done. I can't stay with Travis. He's hurt me one too many times. I throw my bag into my car and start to drive. I don't even pay attention to where I'm going, and I don't care as long as it's not here. As I grip the steering wheel, I start to sob.

I have nowhere to go. Nobody left to run to. I am alone.

Parking my car in a Walmart parking lot, I crawl into the back seat of my car and try to fall asleep to the sound of the rain hitting the roof. But I just can't. I need somebody. I can't stand being alone.

When I moved in with Travis, he made me cut off everyone. I haven't talked to any of my friends in a full year. There's nobody who I can call. Then I realize. Yes there is.

I pull out my phone and dial his number, praying that he hasn't gotten a new phone. There's no answer. I curse, punching the back of the drivers' seat before crawling back to the front of the car and turning the key. My anxiety about seeing him battles with the excitement. I've missed him, but what if he's mad at me?

It takes me about two hours to where he lived last time I talked to him. I just hope he didn't move. I take a deep breath and knock on the door. For a moment, there's nothing. It is well past midnight, so this might not be the best idea. The door opens to reveal a familiar face. Scott. I fight the urge to start crying. I promised myself I wouldn't get emotional.

"Mitch?" His voice is rough. He probably just woke up.

"Hey." I don't know what else to say. He steps to the side, silently allowing me to come in. "Thanks," I whisper, trying not to let my voice tremble. Instead of answering right away, he leads me to a bedroom.

"You can sleep here." I nod.

"Thanks," I repeat.

"What happened?" His voice is barely a mumble.

"Travis and I had... an argument. So I left. I tried to call, but it didn't work. I was planning to sleep in my car but I just didn't want to be all alone, you know?"

"Yeah. I hate being alone." I nod. "You left me alone for a year, Mitch. An entire year! No texts, no calls... nothing. What the hell?" He doesn't sound angry. He sounds sad. Disappointed, even. I wish he was angry. I wish he would yell at me. I deserve it. I was awful to him. "You know, I wanted to be mad at you. And I was, right up until the second I saw you at my door."

"I... I'm so sorry, Scott. You could've gotten another roommate-"

"It wouldn't have been the same. You were my other half." I nod, lowering my head.

"I know. I never should've left. I never should've dated Travis in the first place. Then none of this would've ever happened." I can see he's curious. He wants to know exactly what happened with me and Travis. But I also know that he won't pressure me to tell him.

"You should get some sleep now. You've had one hell of a night." He kisses my head and walks out, leaving me to throw on a pair of sweatpants and bury myself in blankets. As I lay there, I can't stop thinking about Scott- about back when we were practically inseparable.

---Flashback---

"Mitchy?" I looked at Scott. "Don't ever leave me." I cuddled up against his chest as we sat there one the couch.

"I literally would never think of it." He gently rubbed my back.

"Good. Because you're my best friend, and I don't want to lose you." Closing my eyes, I let him hold me there. "If you left, I don't know what I would do. You're everything to me. Where would I be without you?" He sighs, shaking his head. "Sorry, I'm being dumb. Forget I said anything." I grab his hand.

"No. It was sweet. I don't know what I would do without you either." He smiles, and I smile back.

---End of Flashback---

I promised I would never leave him. He should be mad at me. Why wouldn't he be? I broke a promise and left him by himself. I shove my face into the pillow, quietly crying. Scott, I'm so sorry.

There's a slight sound outside of my room, and I slowly creep to the door, peering out to see Scott on the couch, his face buried in his hands. There's a glass of wine next to him. I stressed him out. I didn't mean to. I sigh and go back to bed. There'll be time to talk about this in the morning.