Heal

the healing

First pebble. It hit down the opposite end of the car park. While they were all getting flustered I re-arranged myself so I could run easily. I gripped my bag tighter than I ever had before. My heartbeat was so loud I think Ronnie could’ve heard it.

“Hey, Joe, Dad!” It was George’s voice next. It came from above us, out the gap in the wall and up a floor in the car park. Everyone stood up and stepped closer to the gap. Another pebble thrown directly downwards. I could hear everyone’s thoughts: London? He’s not in London!

I ran. As fast as I could. So fast I nearly tripped on my own shoes.

“Myra!” Ronnie called.

“Shit!” I could hear Joe running behind me. I was already tiring and out of breath. I opened the exit door and slammed it so it would slow Joe down. I heard someone running down the stairs above me and bolted straight into the public traffic.

“Myra!” It was George stumbling so fast down the stairs he looked scared for his own safety. I didn’t stop to wait for him, because I knew Joe was close.

He caught up to me soon, I was slowing down out of exhaustion. Sprinting was never my thing.

“This way,” He panted, grabbing my hand and dragging me through the bulging crowd of people and into a retail park.

“You little bastard!” Joe was faint, but still behind us.

As we ran, people gave me looks as if to say ‘what the hell happened to your face?’ And I wanted to reply ‘I DON’T KNOW.’

I was slowing down even more and taking bigger breaths. My leg hurt.

“Come. On.” He pulled me further along. There were less people now and Joe looked way faster than us.

George led me into a NEXT store, and we kept going until we reached the back. Then he started to panic, looking around for somewhere to hide.

He ran to the counters then and pleaded, “Please don’t say a word,” to the worker. She stood, gawking at my face. George yanked on my arm so we were both on the floor, and then he crawled under the desk.

I crawled next to him and tried to hold my breath. I leant my head back onto the walls of the desk and imagined what my mom would say.

She would be horrified, George wouldn’t be able to speak to me ever again. But my mom wasn’t here and George was the only person that made me feel safe now.

“Are you ok?” He whispered in between gasps.

I nod, looking away because all I wanted to do today was find a pub and sleep. But I guess I got what I wanted, I got to know his business. I never really asked, but it served me right for wondering.

“WHERE ARE THEY?!” I heard Joe shout the other side of the counter.

“I, I-” The girl at the counter stutters and George pulls me closer to him, then decides we’d be less see able if he pulled me on top of him. It was a bit too close for my liking, but I knew if I protested I’d probably die. “I sent them up the staff stairs,” From underneath the counter we saw her point to a door behind the woman.

Joe didn’t take any time in running to the door, banging the security box out of the way and storming up the stairs.

George and I waited for a few seconds before getting up. “Thank you,” I said to the woman as we ran out. She nodded and smiled.

He grabbed my hand again and we ran out of the store and out onto the road.

“What now?” I asked, hoping he’d have some divine plan of escape, but he just lead me around the back of the shops and leant against a wall.