The Runaways

CHAPTER 1 SORROW

It was Sunday and Mother had taken my phone away from me after a fight about talking with my friends and she said that they were a bad influence on me for going out to celebrate. I had won in a writing contest for my school and I was praised highly by my teachers so I called my mom to tell her about us going to Green Hill to the cafe. We went there and enjoyed ourselves. I had forgotten to tell her I was with friends and she thought they were a bad influence on me because of their "bad" behavior but that was just an excuse to take my phone away to look through it. She was always a snoop. I cried until I came here to my window,I opened it and let in the cool night breeze,oh how it felt nice on my skin. It wasn't so cold to the point it felt like ice but more soothing like a nice autumn wind that is crisp and cool. I can just take in everything around me,my room is my safe space for me. My room is small and has a desk by the window and a couch under the other side of the window. My desk has things from when I was a baby and growing up. I have a side table with a bed beside it,usually my friends would sleep close to me or on the floor with blankets. We had fun making forts and laughing together.

Right now I can't enjoy my swell moments with my eyes filling with tears and my mind and face filling with sorrow. I have been crying for a while but the tears keep flowing down like an endless stream,the sorrow is endless,when will this end for real. People tell me it stops but does it really but then they say 'but' and they tell me that only a pill can help. I wouldn't believe they aren't hurting underneath a pill's facade.It is all fake, all they long for is real and raw emotion to be shown to the people around them,they want to tell them they are hurting,kind of sounds like me? My friends Esther and Astrid,they are what keep me from breaking down crying every time mother and father fight about his drinking problem and finances. I'm honestly doing them both a favor by leaving them without them having to pay for me. I really would love to leave this place and all of it behind but I'd miss my friends too much. I soon had gotten lost in my train of thought and realized the time was 12:32 p.m. and it was a school night so I got ready to go to sleep and crawled into bed, making sure I was comfortable and did what I did as a kid, crying myself to sleep. I soon drifted into a deep sleep,but not a dream or nightmare like always. The embrace of sleep isn't all that pleasant for me.

I awoke to the sound of my mother screaming for me to get up in her own rough tone. I was sure no truly nice mother could muster. It was fine but sometimes I wish I could have some love and recognition. No matter, I have to get up and get dressed for school. I wear my favourite hoodie,a denim jacket with grey cloth sleeves and hood, my matching grey yoga pants, and a red shirt underneath. I was soon ready and grabbed my backpack and ran like I was being chased by a pack of wolves because if I didn't I would've missed my bus. Thankfully I got there on time to see my friends waving to me from the back of the bus past the kids. I walked hurriedly towards them and hugged them. I was excited and we started to talk about our lives and such. "So...how are you Ophelia?" I sighed and said,"I...have been well but mother took my phone for even talking to you guys." they both gave me an apologetic face and said their apologies but it wasn't their faults that mother had assumed were wrong.

We had gotten off of the bus and headed to the door of the school. I entered and me and my friends made it for breakfast,today was a muffin or cereal, apple or juice. I picked a muffin and juice with one of those small cartons of milk. Me and my friends sat next to each other,Astrid in front of me and Esther,I immediately had something to say once we sat down,"Okay so,guys I have to ask you something?" they nodded their heads for me to continue,"Okay so I was wondering if you would run away in a month,since Astrid is getting her car soon?" both of their eyes widened with shock and fear. "I'm...in,let's do this and we're coming with you! We have your back no matter what happens,right Esther?" Esther just kept a straight face and nodded. We all had bad childhoods,our parents all neglected us in some way. We shortly after meeting became amazing friends. "Thank you guys,this means a lot to me and I really appreciate your support!" I went across the table and hugged them both.

The bell rang and I had to go to Mrs.Jacquelyn's room. She is my honors spanish 2 teacher. I love learning spanish,it's one of my favourite subjects in my school. I have been practicing at home for an entire week for the end of the year test,the year is ending in about a week. I'm excited for the english test I have for my honors class.After the test was relaxing and nerve wracking for me and probably for all the other kids. I head to my next class and so on until my last class until exploratory English class with Mrs.Baxter,my favourite class out of them all. I love her class since I can just be myself in the class and I absolutely love writing my own stories and the prompts she gives us. I can just express my emotions and my friends are even in this class. We sat down and did our homework while occasionally talking to each other.

After school we walked to my house and talked for hours and planned out our escape. We were going to sneak me out of the window in a month in summer,we wouldn't miss school that much and we'd leave everything behind. We made sure we wouldn't get caught. We'd have to make at least 5,000 dollars in order to pay to live in a small cabin we found that is abandoned in the woods. We'd be able to get a job in the town next to the woods and pay for food. I am so nervous but I also am extremely excited. My friends families are very homophobic and transphobic,very intolerent in general. Since I'm pan my mother said I couldn't have my friends over for sleepovers or have my tablet since I've been "So disrespectful",I was not disrespectful,she just doesn't get my mind,I even have a little sister who doesn't understand. Even Astrid's grandma is intolerant and says,"You're upsetting God and he doesn't like that so just stop!" Her twin brother is always saying,"Why do you like girls? It's super weird." It's still disrespectful and annoying. I miss how things were before this.

Today is the day where I go with my friends to the cabin we found,we are giggling and talking about what we're going to do tonight. I said," Guys,we're going to be like those cottagecore girls you see online." We laughed about it for a while. Soon night fell without our knowing,mother told them to leave and as they left we all thought," Just you see...." that night I heard an, "Ophelia! Get out here before I start throwing rocks at your window!" I quickly hurried with my bags I packed Earlier,I leapt out onto the first floor balcony and hopped off of the railing like I was in a movie. My friends just facepalmed and told me to get in the car. I felt very proud of myself. Astrid turned the keys and I immediately felt full of adrenaline. We were all pumped! "So guys! I'm excited,what about you!?" They nodded and giggled.