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"Anything seems possible at night when the rest of the world has gone to sleep."
― David Almond, My Name is Mina

Rowan
When the time comes in your life when you are about to abandon everything you ever knew, it's the small things that you notice. The times when your dad carried you on his back, the first time your mum taught you how to put on make-up, the times when you memorised raps to perform with your sister and couldn't stop laughing afterwards.

They're the things that I don't want to leave behind, but they are memories, and if you live in the past, then how are you expected to enjoy the present?

I've always wanted to run away. Not because I hate my parents, or my sister. Quite the contrary, I love them all. But I want to spend my young years doing what I've always wanted to do, discovering places that I would never imagine existed. And I can't do that here, and if not now, then when?

A full moon is the most magical occurrence that you can witness. That's why I chose tonight. It's like an enormous bulb hanging in the sky, just fading a little, casting enough light for perfect vision, and yet enough to spark mystery and wonder.

And wonder is a powerful thing. After all that's what is driving me.

I faced a lot of small issues beforehand such as; what can you possibly take to last you the rest of your life?

My answer: A jumper, a toothbrush, the clothes you are wearing now, some matches, a blanket and two jars of peanut butter.

Not your phone, not 10 outfits, not my iPod. If I brought my phone, I would never make it out of my estate. I wanted to bring my whole house, but it wasn't practical. And running away may not be practical, but it is really the only option in my mind.

But my biggest obstacle is yet to come, and I would give anything to go around it, but the issue with obstacles is that if you don't tackle them, they don't move. They want you to go around them, to avoid them, only to be faced with dozens more obstacles. So this is why you have to tackle them head on. Which is what I am about to do.

The floorboards of the upstairs corridor are very weak, therefore they creak if pressure is put on them. I gently place my right foot as far ahead of me as I can reach. Creeeak. I take another light step. Creeeak. When your aim is to be as quiet as possible, an amazing sense of paranoia that every single sound you make is like a thunder clap, enters your mind, so at this point I just keep tiptoeing with the floorboards squealing under my weight until I am outside Erin's bedroom.

She is sitting up on her bed. I can't see her expression in the dark, and I'm not completely sure that I want to.

"You're leaving now aren't you?" She whispers knowingly, trying not to wake Mum and Dad.

I nod, unable to look her in the eyes. When I realise that she can't see me properly I mutter a "yes".

"Will you ever come back?" she chokes. I can tell that she is going to cry now. I would comfort her, but what good will it do? I'm not going to change my mind. Not now.

"Of course Erin. I couldn't go forever without you and Mum and Dad, it's just temporary and I'll be back before you know it."

She says nothing, but stumbles out of bed and hugs me as if she will never let go.

"Erin I swear it's not that big of a deal. If I ever find myself at a public telephone, I'll call the house so make sure you are the one to answer and don't let Mum and Dad come after me alright?"

"They're gonna go after you. You know that."

I sigh. "See you later Erin. I'll have so many stories to tell you when I get back."

"Bye Rowan."

I swallow. "Don't say bye Erin."

"Goodnight Rowan."

"Goodnight Erin." I pause and look at her one more time before gently closing the door. I slump against the wall. "If everything worth doing was easy, nothing would be worth doing," I tell myself as I shakily turn the doorknob of my parents room.

My mum and dad were both softly snoring in their beds. "I love you both," I whisper into darkness. "And I promise I'll come back soon," I continue, though it feels like I am reassuring myself and nobody else.

Unable to stay another moment I enter my bedroom to see my tatty backpack on my tatty white sheets. I've always loved this room.

"Snap out of it Rowan. You're using every excuse you can to stay. The hardest part is over so you can't turn around now. This is what you want," I mutter to myself. The first step to madness: repeatedly talking to yourself.

I guess I can't say that I am completely sane.

I grab the old back and sling it on my back and before I can even consider staying one more time and before I know it, I am out the door.

The bitter cold of the night shocked my body compared to the warm indoors. The wind pulled at my hair and clothes.

I walk on, through rows of houses. "I'm finally doing this."

I turn around one last time to look at my home. "Goodnight Erin, goodnight Mum, goodnight Dad." I take a deep breath and keep walking.

If I had known how long it would be until I came back, I would have stayed a lot longer.

(A/N)

Short boring chapter, sorryy :/ Anyway Rowan left :O and she isn't coming back for ages :O or maybe even EVER :O :O :O

So I have a question: should I bring in the other characters points of view now and weave them all together, or keep going with Rowan and she'll meet them on the way and THEN I'll do their points of view? Which onee?

Yeah, the next chapter will be a lot longer haha XD

And listen to the song "I lived" by One republic it inspired me c:

Lily-Ann.