we met before the world ended

one/summer 1995

6/13/95 (Avi)

"If you chase two rabbits, they will both getaway".

Mom and dad were fighting again.

The screaming made the ringing in my ears even worse. Sighing, I shoved in my earbuds and turned the music up. The walls shook as they stomped around and threw things open and closed. My eyes drifted over to my window, I had said I would stay home today. But then again, they had promised to stop fighting. I pulled myself out of bed and started lacing my boots up. Looking around, I cringed as something hit the wall out there. The yelling paused, but my music blared on in my damaged ears. Grabbing my ratty blue hoodie I pulled the sleeves up my arms and started slowly opening my window.

If I went too quickly, it would screech on the hinges and they would get mad (at me this time). The window slid open and I let out a breath.

The cold night air helped me breathe again, I sat there on the windowsill for a moment and just, breathed.

The song changed, something calmer and I could hear the shouting starting up again.

Then, I let go. I jumped.

My feet hit the ground with a thud, and I started running, going low under the living room windows, the light streaming across the yard would have given me away if anyone had cared to look.

As I slinked away my eyes caught on the reflections in the window, shadows danced around as they fought.

My feet crunched over the dead flowers that littered the neighbor's lawn as I made my getaway. The light from the streetlights glittered along the water on the road. My boots stomped through the glittering puddles and water splashed on my jeans.

It was nice out here; I hummed breathlessly along to the song buzzing in my ears. Everything was perfect, I knew just where I wanted to go. Shoving my hands into my pockets I puffed out a breath and headed to the gas station.