The Girl Who Ran

July

　

　

July 4 Thirty-seventh day gone

Dear Diary,

Today is the Fourth of July. I sat outside of a new hotel and watched the fireworks. I wondered of my little brother was freaking out again. He hates fireworks. His name was Caleb. He had my mom’s black hair. My dad had blonde hair. No one in my family has my color of hair. I almost miss my home. All I miss is my little brother. He was a handful but he never actually hurt me. All he did was rip heads of my Barbie dolls. I never even played with them at the time. He also colored on my picture for art once. I took in a fixed copy and that copy. My art teacher thought it was nice of me to bring in the ruined copy. That is the one I hung up in the hallway. Why did I run? I guess I just stopped thinking. I let myself do whatever. I had to though. My parents never let me talk. I was called a crybaby then told to go to my room. When I told them about my problems at school, my dad told me to act like a man and fight back. When I came home from school that day, I had a cut lip, a black eye, an ankle that was almost broken, and a chipped tooth. My parents never cared. The school didn’t even care. I slowly started to prepare. Everyday I would sneak something in my room. First, I snuck in batteries, then a flashlight. Then I got a bag and my diary. Then a pencil and money from my birthday. Three days before I left, I wrote a note. At first, I thought I would never leave. The note said, ‘I have to go. You made me. Goodbye. Maybe I will come back. Aleena.’ I read the note repeatedly. Finally at night, I left. I put on a sweatshirt, a short sleeve shirt, and a pair of pants. I climbed out of my window since I lived on the top floor. I just started to run. When the sun started to rise, I found a place to stay. It was a tall oak tree with a hole. It had packaged food that I left there. Just in case, I need it. I ended up eating all of it. I think I need sleep.

Aleena

　

July 5 Thirty-eighth day gone

Dear Diary,

I checked the map today. I am now at Columbus, Ohio. My mom has talked on the news. She was in tears and begged me to come back. The place I am at said after I leave the state to give them a call. They want to tell my mom I am all right. I agreed. The man is taking my out of state tomorrow. They also gave me some snacks for along the way. I have potato chips and three candy bars. I want some sleep before I go tomorrow. Goodnight.

Aleena

　

July 7 Fortieth day gone

Dear Diary,

After I got out of state, the people sent me a voice message from my mom. It said, “Aleena, if you are hearing this then come home. I will fix anything you need. We can move back to our old home. Your father is with me. He feels so bad for losing you. Just at least give me a call.” When I found out that my dad was not at the other end waiting, I formed a new plan. I was never going back. I will never go back to the people who treated me as if I was nothing. My father treats me as if I was a disappointment. He wanted a son instead of me. When Caleb was born, he never spoke to me for a long time. He took care of Caleb and my mom was the same. All they did was worry about him. I made my own food for a long time. I cooked and cleaned for everyone and I still do. Not anymore though. I am stronger. If I give my mom a call, she will try to track me. I have watched enough TV to know the tracking will be complete after 20 to 30 minutes. If I keep the call at five minutes, they will have an even tougher time to track me. I will call tomorrow. Now I will sleep at a hotel that let me in free.

Aleena

　

July 8 Forty-first day gone