It slowly creeps up on you when you're in uncomfortable and risky situations. It slithers until you are tightly in its grasp, unable to see or feel anything except fear.
Fear let's you know when you're in danger. But it can be irrational. People can be scared of heights or the ocean.
But me? I was scared of my own family. More so, my father. I feared what he did when no one was looking. What he did when we were surrounded by darkness.
I was scared of the scratching. The screams of pain and agony. The crying. And the pleading. And the thing I was scared of the most? The silence.
Years passed before I heard the last scream. Before they took him away. Before they took the man posing as my father.
I needed to get away. I needed to leave. I was 18. If I could take my sister and never look back. We were going to run. Whatever I'd have to do.
I'd get her out. Because even if my father was arrested, he had people on the inside. He wouldn't stay imprisoned for long. And then he'd come for us.
So one late night in July I took my sister. We packed our bags and we ran. Emptied our bank accounts and bought tickets to The UK.
*** 1 year later
"Danica let's go! You have school in 45!" She huffed and lugged her book bag down the stairs.
"I swear if I have to listen to one more chav say something shitty about my hair I will kill them." I rolled my eyes.
"Danica you have to go regardless. You already have permission to punch them in the face if they hit you first." She looked at me and sighed.
"Fine. But only because there's a cute boy in my class." She ran out the door immediately after. "Bye Alonis!" Oh she's lucky she's out the door.
I had a lecture today at college so I threw on a skirt and some fishnets, with a random shirt and looked at myself in the mirror.
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I surprisingly looked good. I grabbed my bag and ran out the door.
Crap I can't be late!
I quickly walked down the street when I accidentally slammed into someone, knocking all of their, and my stuff, onto the ground.
"Oh my gosh I'm so sorry!" I helped him pick up all of the papers, and rushed off.
