Vasper Runaway

Chapter 2

"I can see you get along well with Ivy." Uncle Sam says as the car starts moving.

I just look as we pass the Ice Cream shop beside Rosie Calamity. I wonder why he didn't bring me there but keep quiet.

"Yeah. She is easy to get along with." I grimace making Uncle Sam chuckles.

"You'll get use to her."

"I hope so."

We drive in silent and it is so unlike Uncle Sam to stop talking but I embrace the lack of conversation anyway. Maybe Uncle Sam see how stiff I am and let me calm myself for a moment.

But I am wrong.

"She is my step daughter, you know." When he starts talking back, the words make my heart beat faster than normal. You see, my heart is different. It beat faster than other people's heart because I easily get scared and when I said faster than normal, it means my heart beat so fast I have to part my lips and breathe through my mouth.

"When?"

Even though I look straight into the plat number of the car in front of us, I still can see he is glancing at me now. "I married Carla in spring last year."

I don't know what to say. So, I keep silent.

"Listen." Uncle Sam started. "I see that your father did not inform you about my marriage. But I did ask you to come and he said the date is the same date of your graduation."

Lie. All lie.

My stomach sink and I can hear my own blood roaring in my ears. Me graduating in spring?

"Hey, are you okay? A little bit pale there."

Again, I wipe the perspiration on my forehead and force a smile into my face. "How was she?"

Uncle Sam glances at me again. "Carla?"

I nod.

"She is no Rosie, you know. But I love her just the same." He got this happy smile curving on his face and I am happy for him. Really. Just feel a bit annoyed with the Ivy part. "Where are you staying anyway? Are you here for long?"

"I'm staying at Mr. Cawolski apartment. Just a block from Rosie Calamity and how long will I stay is depend on your treatment, I think." I wink.

"Cheeky, aren't you." He pinches my cheek and I feel the shot of happiness run through me making telling him about father will be a lot more difficult. I can't just come into his life, I mean his now wonderful life ask him to help me bear my problem.

We talk some more. About why he named his coffee shop Rosie Calamity. He says he afraid someday he will forget his wife and by naming the coffee shop Rosie, he will always remember her. After that he mostly talking about Carla and I love listening to his happy, loud voice.

Not until we reach the ice cream shop, which sell homemade ice cream so good you eyes roll to the back. He started to ask me about me and my father and I feel suffocating. I lie. Like I always do. Not for protection this time but because I am scared to tell the truth. Afraid after telling the truth, Uncle Sam will not believe me or worse he calls my father and ask for confirmation which is totally a bad idea.

***

The house is safe. The door have four safety padlocks. All the window has grille on it and the glasses are dark.

It is not in the best condition I admit. The paint looks worn out and it have this weird fusty smell but I think it is perfect anyway. It is a small apartment with one bedroom, a bathroom, a decent kitchen and nice comfortable living room. The rent is affordable and it comes with free television and fridge which is a fortune for me.

I open the sliding door that facing a salon that called 'Enigma' and breathe deeply. Embrace the feeling of safety for now.

After Boston, I don't know where else I should go. I usually avoid busy town because many people means many questions but right now I have to stay here. I need to meet Uncle Sam. I think this is finally the time I should ask someone for help but yea, asking help is actually not an easy thing to do.

I touch my cheekbone. It is no longer bruising but the memory of it keeps linger. I close my eyes and remember the night in Boston. I remember watching his uneven teeth clenching furiously while he swung his fist to my face. I try to ward it off by my hand. It is like blowing into a hurricane. No effect and the blow still stings until today.

After making sure all the windows (the house only have two windows) are locked, I went to my bedroom, lock the door and prepare to sleep.

That night I dream. Someone crept into my room. He punched me awake wake and I wake up gasping for air at the same time trying to cover my bleeding nose. He slapped me several time asking why I sleep without his permission and I said sorry. He ignored my attempt to run from him and pushed my head into the pillow hard. I flailed and struggled when I realise he is tugging my pants down. He position himself between my leg and he laughed.

"No..." I whimper in my bed when I wake up from the dream. I cry until I can't take it anymore and throw the pillow into the wall. "Leave me alone! Leave me alone!"

I fall into the bed again, crying, shaking and scared. I can't live like this. I can't live with his nightmare chasing me everywhere I go. I have to stop him but I don't know. I don't know how.

That night is my first night staying in Atlanta. I should just sleep ignoring the dream, but instead I keep crying until the sun comes and keep the darkness away from me.

I thank the sun. The only thing that brighten my life.

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