The palms of my hands were tinted in bright red, seared by the ongoing waves of heat from the metal surface of the car as I constantly hit it. My throat was sore, dry like a dead desert due to the cries for help that knew not to stop.
A woman pushed her head out of the driver's seat window, her eyes held a thousand questions. She stared at me, half willing to offer a hand of help, and half wanting me to get out of her way. But despite all, I could see it through her eyes that she was dead curious, so thirsty to know all about it.
"Please - please, I need help!" I shouted one final time, there was no air to catch for a breath. "He's - he's right there after me, he's gonna kill me!" My finger pointed to random stop in the air, the darkness made it seem like I was pointing at nothing but wind.
"Please." At last, my voice grew tired, hopelessness had to show within my words when she remained still as a rock with no response.
"Get in the fucking car!" She finally yelled back, just like me she could feel him roaming around.
I rushed towards the front seat, hard to tell how it felt to finally feel safe enough to have hope. I felt like I was waking up from a nightmare, felt like getting close to water after being lost in nowhere. It all seemed like it was fading away, like it was blending in the air and turning to dust. It felt like heaven.
I landed on the leather surface of the seat, felt like I haven't sat down in ages. The feeling of comfort and safety was completed when the door was slammed shut, as if I had locked the whole world outside for good. In a quick moment, I turned to face the mystery girl next to me on the driver's seat, a grin forced its way to be visible with tears of joy, tears that felt so new to my cheeks. A thank you gave my lips a shape, but that was never enough to tell her how it all made me feel.
Slim fingers held tight the wheel as if though it was a delicate ray of sunlight. Her diamond eyes bothered not to look at me, instead she remained as focused as one can be on the empty road ahead of her. And within a moment, the sound of an engine running started to erase this one hell of a night off my life.
*******
I let the rushing wind brush it all off the tips of my fingers. The bitterness of exhaustion, the wilting, the heaviness that coated me like a layer of skin. On the other hand was the pleasure freedom held within, the peace of mind that came with throwing everything behind. Though if I'm being honest, I was still haunted by the images of him I'd drawn in my mind, I was convinced that even if I run to the ends of earth, he will still find me effortlessly.
"So," She didn't fail to draw my attention towards her when her words were heard. She took a massive breath from the cigarette that rested in between her fingers as if her life depends on it. The smoke she blew blocked the view of the road, yet still she kept her eyes stuck to it as she drove with constantly growing speed.
I must admit, it was such a beautiful view to admire. The side view of her attractively sharp jawline, the short blonde locks tucked behind her ear. One hand confidently held the wheel as the other arm with the cigarette rested on the window frame, letting her hand dive in the wind like a free bird. Something about her captured my breath, couldn't tell what but deep inside I knew I loved it.
"Do you wanna talk about it? Well first, what's your name?" She asked calmly, yet some part of her was eager for an answer.
"I - I'm Theodora, call me Theo." I gave her the answer she was willing to get, not all of it though. Truth be told, I felt repulsive compared to her.
"Well hi Theo, I'm Renee." Her tiny introduction was followed by another breath of her cigarette. "I'd really love to know what was going on, I mean, not trying to be nosy or anything but like, trying to get to know the stranger I just let into my car."
"It's okay," I stumbled over my words, I swallowed on the lump in my throat as it all rushed back to my head like a fast flowing river. "He - he was my boyfriend, Edward. He - he's alcoholic for as long as I've known him, he's a fucking monster." I went on, suddenly words were heavier than to be said. "He'd beat me up like four times a week, every night he comes home drunk to his edges. He's unbearably jealous, too. He'd rather see me dead that see me talking to literally anyone else. But I've had enough."
I felt pathetic, I hated the words as they came out of my mouth and I hated myself for saying them. I looked away, deep down scared of her judgment.
"Horrible, no one deserves to be put in this bullshit. I had a friend, used to be my friend honestly, who had almost the same story as yours. The world is such a fucked up place." Her voice showed no tenderness, nothing in her did to be honest, but at least she didn't fake sympathy, which for the most part felt way much better.
"Do you have any family, or like friends I can drive you to?" She tossed what was left of her cigarette out of the window carelessly. I shook my head in response.
"Well I guess both of us deserves a fresh start." She uttered with a sigh of tiredness before the speed suddenly increased as if we were flying all the way up to the heavens.
