The air was cold and the roof, slippery. The bag on my back, light, only filled with two pairs of clothes and a thousand dollars I had saved over the course of a year and a half. I stepped out on the roof and looked back into my bedroom window. Scanning the room looking for anything else I might need. I nodded, I had everything I needed. I threw my feet over the ledge, grasped the gutter and dropped down. I laughed to my self silently; who knew it would be so easy to get out of there. I ran down the drive way and into the street. Turned and took one last look at the house I called a home. I said my goodbyes in a whisper. Took a deep breath…and ran, as fast as I could. It felt as if I had just escaped from a horrible prison. I huffed as I tried to keep running, but the bitter cold and the dark sheet of night prevented me from doing so. I could hear my fragile heart beating in my ears, it sounded like a tribal drum. My cheeks burned from the sting of the sharp wind. Behind the pain of my cheeks, there was a bitter sweet victory, of escaping. Other than the wind, the world was still, calm. I took a deep breath and pushed on. At the corner of the street sat a small white car, engine humming. I gave my first smile of the night. That beautiful white freedom-mobile. I sprinted to the car and knocked on the frost stricken window. The car clicked and unlocked, it begged me to come into the warmth. Climbing into the car I sighed and layed back in the seating, putting my seatbelt on. I spoke to him softly
“I didn’t think you would risk it, to come and get me.” Dr. Collins, patted me on my shoulder and smiled.
“I wouldn’t risk letting my favorite student walk two miles to the train station in the dark.” Dr. Collins was my Art history professer at NIU. I was the apple of his eye, his everything, he was like a father to me. He always had been. He was the kindest man I had ever known. He had promised me that if I ever needed anything, he would be there to help. I needed him now, and he kept his promise. Just like I prayed he would. I looked over to him in the driver’s seat, his face was fresh with stubble, and his hair peppered. All though he did not look old, he was about fifty. I looked away and sighed, he had worked at NIU since he was thirty-nine, he could get fired for having an female student alone in his car with him if anyone where to find this out.
“No one is going to find out Div, where going to be fine.” He patted my shoulder again. It was as if he could read my mind. He was always like that. He could always tell when there was something wrong with his students. The houses rolled by as we entered a town that could pass for a small city. The neon lights of the Budwiser bar signs where blinding. Unrolling the window a bit, I could smell the Indian restaurant down the way. The spice was so strong it burned my nose from even this distance. The station was in view and my heart leapt. Was I really ready for this? I had no I idea. It was an impulse I just went with. I must have been crazy…but I didn’t care. I was going to do this, I had to. I couldn’t deal with having to tell my friends and professors I fell, or tripped down stairs when I came to class with a fat lip and bruises. I couldn’t do that anymore, I couldn’t, and I wouldn’t. This was my chance to get away and to start over. Collins parked the car and smiled at me,
“Good luck kiddo.” He shook my hand, and in doing so, shoved and extra hundred dollars into my hand. I looked at the bill in shock, I tried to protest and give it back through the window, but he smiled and yelled
“Good luck Divan, and goodbye.” He rolled up his window and drove off. I starred blankly at the ground for a long moment, and began to walk into the station. The lights flickered like bug zappers on marijuana. It was quite annoying, the bell rung as I opened the door, it was silent and warm.
“Hello?” my voice echoed through the station.
“Hello yourself.” A short chubby man stood in the ticket booth, with the smile of a “get well soon” card. I strode over to him and slid the hundred under the window. He smiled again and put it in the register.
“What can I do fer’ ya.” His Texan accent was thick and slightly creepy with the fake smile he had plastered on his face.
“One way, to Chicago.” He nodded and gave me what I asked for. He said nothing more than “The trains waiting get a move on.” I hurried out the door, in fear it would leave without me, but there she sat the great iron giant, that would take me to freedom. I got on board my smile widening, I turned the corner to the seats, and was the only one on the train. I smiled. “Perfect.” I whispered. Taking my seat, my eyes drooped. Soon enough I was asleep and in my own world. But as quickly as I was out, it seems, I was shaken up.
“Ma’ma? It’s your stop. Wake up.” My eyes opened slowly to the smiley face of a young conductor. I whispered thank you, stretched and yawned. He chuckled, “The dealership down the street sent over a car, free charge for just a day as long as you bring it back tomorrow before eight PM.” I nodded and ran off the train, and hopped in my little black Honda and drove. My heart raced, it wasn’t long before the apartments came into view. 350, 349,348 and finally` 347. I parked on the curb and walked up the steps. Took a long look at the doorbell, and then to the little diamond ring on my fourth finger. I smirked and took it off, “So long my dear.” I threw it as hard as I could into the street. I rang the bell and reminded myself breathe slowly.
In one…two
Out one…two
The door opened and a blonde haired woman, and a peppered haired man stood in the doorway, mouths hung open at my condition, and at who I was. Tears came slowly to our eyes. I chocked back sobs and spoke softly “Hi mom…hi dad.” I was finally where I belonged.