Path-to-Freedom (version 1)

(18)

One day when I was watching TV with Raelyn in my bedroom, we saw that it was the 18th anniversary of a missing little girl named Brooklynn. Brooklynn.

I started breathing heavily because next they showed pictures of her parents and they looked like the vague images I remembered.

"Ashley, Ashley are you ok?"

"No." I whispered, still looking at the screen.

"I-I think that's me."

She looked back at the screen and then me.

"What are you talking about?"

"Me Raelyn. I think that's me."

She looked beyond confused. "Are you serious?"

"Yes I'm serious. Ever since I was a child, I always remembered the name Brooklynn.  And those people," I pointed at the parents, the people on the screen. "Look almost exactly like people I remember."

"But that's not possible, you live in Florida. That girl went missing here."

"Then why do I have such a prominent English accent? Why do I have- I- I don't know Raelyn but that's me. It has to be."

She looked at me as if I was insane.

"Ok, let's say that is you. What about Tony then? He's your father. He loves you."

I looked down at my hands and shook my head.

"No he doesn't." I whispered shakily.

Ever since I've been in London, I pushed any and every memory of Tony out of my mind.

"What are you talking about Ash?"

"I'm saying that Tony didn't love me. He abused me, he's the one that stabbed me, he's the reason why I would limp some days and have bruises the others. He doesn't love me Raelyn, he loathes me."

"Why didn't you say anything Ash? Why didn't you ever let me know? I could have helped you." She seemed to be getting angry.

"I couldn't."

She didn't say anything for a while before she got up all of sudden.

"What are you doing?" I asked following her downstairs.

"We are going to the police. If there's even a chance that, that's you, then we need to know for sure. Go grab your jacket and put on your shoes."

I nodded and quickly went back up stairs to put on my jacket and grabbed random shoes.

Once I reached downstairs, I saw that Raelyn had already gone outside and was waiting inside her car.

I grabbed my keys and locked the apartment behind me before going outside and sitting in the passenger seat of her car.

"Are you ok?" Raelyn asked.

"No, what if I'm not her, that means that Tony's actually my father and he hates me, his daughter. How would I- I just have a lot of questions Rae." I sighed.

"It's gonna be ok Ash, he's not gonna find you here."

I nodded and the rest of the car ride was spent in silence.

When we reached the police station, we went straight in and asked to speak to the officer on the missing girl case, saying we had some information.

We were escorted to a room with a one glass mirror, a table and four chairs, two on each side.

We sat down and waited for someone to come in.

Eventually when the door opened, there were two people, one male and female.