escape | ethan dolan

regret • 18

"Harlowe Willams, is that correct?" The large, intimidating police officer sits only a few feet away from my hospital bed. After the police had found me by Grayson's room, they escorted me back to mine for questioning. 

My hands are shaking just by the simple question of my name. "Y-yes. That's my name."

"Okay," Another officer speaks. She has dark brown hair and bright blue eyes. Her look comes across as soft, but as soon as her booming voice presents itself, that interpretation instantly changes. "Harlowe. You left the State of New Jersey Orphanage a little over a week ago, is that right?"

I swallow and take a deep breath in. "Uh, I guess. It's been kind of hard to keep track of time, especially after the accide-" 

"And you've been staying with Lisa Dolan this whole time, correct?" The officer cuts me off. I bite my lip, ashamed, and sink lower into the bed. I just want this to be over. 

Not even thirty seconds later, Lisa rushes in. You can tell she had been sleeping. Her face shows nothing but utter fear and shock when she steps into the room. "Hello, officers," She greets with a raspy tone. "What's going on here?" 

"Good evening, Mrs. Dolan," The first officer, who asked my name, speaks. He's got a large, stocky, build. His voice is much less intimidating than the woman's, however. "We have a few things to discuss with you, so please, sit down."

"I don't understand," Lisa sits down and gives me a scared, confused look. It almost causes tears to form in my eyes. I'm beyond terrified, knowing what's about to come next. 

"Do you realize you have been holding a fugitive in your household?" The woman officer asks Lisa with her arms crossed. A look of horror shoots across Lisa's face. I'm screwed. I think to myself. 

"Hold on," Lisa's voice is shaky. "Fugitive? From prison?" She emphasizes the word prison like it's a word that's never been spoken before. 

"Ma'me," The male officer interjects. "We believe that you have been lead under false pretenses, perhaps," He clears his throat uncomfortably. "Harlowe escaped from the State of New Jersey Orphanage a little more than a week ago." 

Lisa stares at the officer intensely, then turns to me. Her eyes are filled with sadness, confusion, and even fear. I hadn't even noticed that I've started crying. My face is drenched with my tears. 

"This is true?" Lisa half says, half asks. I nod my head slowly and she closes her eyes like she's in pain. It hurt me to see what I was putting her through. It's all my fault.  It's all my fault.

"I'm so sorry," I whisper while I continue crying. "I'm so sorry I lied to you." She shakes her head, trying to process the information. 

The female officer has kept a poker face this entire time. "Harlowe will be sent back to the orphanage as soon as she is released from the hospital," She turns to me and gives me a look like she's making a deal with me. I already knew this was going to happen. "Um, we'll give you guys a moment." The police slip through the curtain, leaving me and Lisa alone. The awkward tension takes over the entire room. 

"I guess," I pause and gulp, trying to collect myself. "I guess you know what happened the night of the accident." I assumed since I never told her, someone must have had to. I think of Ethan. Did he already tell her I was orphan? Did he explain everything to her?

"Harlowe," Lisa breathes loudly. "I knew what was going on. Ethan explained it to me earlier."

"Really?" I sniffle. I'm not really surprised, I figured he did. "When?"

"Well," She starts. "The first time I asked what happened he just told me that you guys went for a walk and him and Grayson didn't know where you went, so they split up looking for you. That's when Grayson found you in the alleyway with those guys."

"I mean, that's not really far from the truth," I shrug. "You already know that, though." 

"Then, today, Ethan told me the real story," Lisa looks at me. "Everything." 

"Mrs. Dolan," I feel that I have to address her now with formality. "This is all my fault. All of it," I look down at my lap, trying to hold back the tears that threating to fall out of my eyes. "I'm the reason that Grayson got hurt. I shouldn't have lied. I shouldn't have asked Ethan not to tell anyone about it. He only was protecting me," The words spill out of my mouth uncontrollably. I feel like there's so much to say. I have to make this right. "I'm so sorry." 

Lisa stays quiet for a few moments. I don't blame her, I wouldn't know what to say either. Her son is in a coma because of me. That's not easy to forgive. 

"Listen, Harlowe," She begins almost in a whisper. "This has been a lot to take in. I needed to go home earlier to clear my head after Ethan told me, but I didn't expect this all to happen today," Lisa clears her throat and continues. "I understand where you're coming from, and being angry isn't going to fix anything right now- I know that," Hearing her say those words made me sigh with relief. "I just need some time, that's all. I'm going to talk to the police, but I'll come back in a little bit to see you," She slowly stands up and begins to walk out of the room. 

Suddenly, it hits me. "Wait, Lisa," She turns around and looks at me, tiredly. "What's the date today?" Lisa reaches in her back pocket and takes out her phone. 

"It's September 2nd, why?" 

I chuckle lightly and look down at my hands. "I just remembered... today's my seventeenth birthday." 

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omgggg im so excited because the next few chapters are about to have major drama!!! don't forget to vote xoxo love you guys