Beautiful Escape

Beautiful Escape: Chapter Twelve

Kario.

For some reason I couldn't sleep, I'd been tossing and turning all night. Finally I checked the time on my phone to see it was little after four in the morning but I'm wide awake.

I decided on going for a jog since I knew I wasn't going to sleep anytime soon and school started in a little bit so I threw on some sweats, a hoodie and kept my Nikes in my hand til I got downstairs to avoid waking anyone up.

When I hit the bottom step, I heard the front door shut and the light sounds of foot steps coming towards me, I knew it was my mother but I still hadn't been speaking to her so my plan was to walk right past her until from the faint light in the hall I could see her bruised and swollen lips, her black eye and various cuts around her face.

"Ma, what happen to yo' face?" I asked through clenched teeth.

She smacked her lips as tears ran down her cheeks. "I thought you weren't speaking to me since I fucked up your life so bad?"

"You're still my mother and I love you but you're putting yourself through this bullshit and I'm not gonna watch it kill you like I did when I was younger." I stated in a hush tone.

She began sobbing but I had no remorse for my harsh words, if anything I've been babysitting the truth for to long and I'm old enough to accept the it, my mother's habit is slowly killing her and if she couldn't find the strength she needed to quit, I told myself I wasn't going to help her anymore. She is my mother and I won't stop loving her but I can't put my life on hold because I have to watch her throw her life away.

"But Rio, baby I need you." She cried in my chest.

My jaw clenched with anger. "I can't keep helping you, either you do it on your own or you continue to live like this, its your choice now if you'll excuse me I gotta go."

I didn't look back as I made my way through the front door and into the early morning air.

I took off running, letting my feet release my anger through the pavement. I couldn't stop until I was damn near about to collapse on the side walk. I rested my arms on my head as I took slow deep breaths and without warning the tears slid down my face.

I refuse to wallow in my own self pity so I got myself together and walked back to auntie Gina house. I had clothes in my truck so I got in and headed to school, deciding to shower in the locker room.

I got dressed just in time to hear the first bell ring. I slung my backpack across my shoulder then walked into the busy hallway.

To be honest I wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone so I tried hard to ignore the small voice yelling my name. I turned around to see Amber trying to catch up with me.

Sighing I fixed my attitude as she approach with a smile on her face.

"Hey Rio, what's up?" She asked looking up at me.

"Nothing, about to be late to class." I wasn't being rude on purpose but I just wasn't in the mood to talk.

"Ew, what's wrong with you, Ajalon ain't giving up the cookie?" She laughed.

"Bye Amber."

I continued to walk to class and made it in time before the tardy bell rang. We had a sub so I sat in the back with my head phones on and my hoodie pulled over my head.

By lunch I was in a better mood but I was still thinking about my mom and her situation.

"What's up butthead." Ajalon smiled sitting next to me.