“We’ll talk about this again. It’s Mom’s fault, but you’ve been lying to me.” Alek is breathy, and guilt overwhelms me.
The words “I’m sorry” get stuck in my throat. I had my reasons.
My brother storms back to my room, and I follow him. He picks up my two suitcases.
“School doesn’t start for three weeks, but you already packed?”
“Yeah, you know me. I like to be prepared.” I lieagain,and the train ticket burns a hole in my back pocket.
“Let’s go then. Before the fucker wakes up.”
My plan to run away to New Orleans hasn’t changed. I’m just taking a detour to Alek’s apartment.
“Wait… I can’t find it.” I kneel on the floor, checking under my bed.
Oh right. The walk-in closet. I run to it and pull out a large piece of cardboard and my purse, making sure my phone is in there. I press on the screen to see multiple missed calls from my brother.
“What’s that?” My brother nods toward my busy hands.
“My dream board,” I say simply.
I’m not about to go into a detailed explanation of what I imagine a normal family looks like. How I built a board with visions of my future. How I stare at it every day.
The cut-out pictures from magazines make a great collage. A picture-perfect house is glued to the board. Right in front of it, I stuck on a handsome guy dressed in a preppy vest, slacks, and a tie. I found a picture of three cute toddlers and glued them to the green yard in front of the house. And although it’s out of place, I still glued a swimming pool next to the white picket fence. Because what normal family doesn’t have a pool? I roll my eyes to myself. My dream board is exactly that—a dream. The guy is a model. The pictures are wrinkled from the glue.
Heavy suitcases hanging at his sides, Alek watches me intently. His eyes hold that same spark I remember from when we were kids. He gave me this same look right after he beat up a bully on the playground for me. He made my tormentor apologize to me. And then he gave me the look—this look—that says,I wish I could give you the world. I wish I could protect you. I wish I could make you feel better, but I can’t.The pain in my chest is at its maximum.
While Alek waits for me at the front door, I drop everything from my hands, dash to the fridge, and pull out a water bottle. I place it on the floor in front of my mom’s motionless body on the couch. I wait a few minutes, staring at her chest to make sure it rises. It does, and I pick up my stuff again and get back to Alek.
“Let’s get the heck away from this shithole,” I say.
Finally leaving this horrible place I had to call home my whole life, Alek drives us to his campus apartment. Technically, I was supposed to start at Bastien in three weeks and move into the dorms.
Alek and I may look alike, with the same azure-blue eyes and blond hair, but I excel in academics and he excels in sports. I studied around my part-time jobs and maintained perfect grades in high school because I couldn’t wait to attend Bastien and be close to Alek, even if only for a year since he’ll be graduating soon.
Attending Bastien and being with my brother felt too good to be true. It was my original run-away-from-home plan but as I’ve learned, things rarely work out as one wants.
My racing mind drifts to a week ago when I was helpless, lying on my stomach in a stranger’s bed and waiting for the pain in my shoulder to subside. The stitches in my stab wound haven’t dissolved completely and a few must have come off earlier. The burning in my shoulder throbs. I’ve been avoiding Charlie’s texts and calls ever since.
Now I’m on the run—or Iwasgoing to be. I guess I’m not catching that train. I sink into Alek’s passenger seat.Ouch. I can deal with the pain, but I hope it doesn’t leave a bloody stain on the seat. The scratch on my neck and the wound on my shoulder hurt, but that’s nothing compared to the cutting pain in my heart. From having Alek see me like this. From leaving my mom in such condition. From not being able to get free.
But the pain reminds me of my goal right now—running away. Away from the mess and abuse. Running toward my freedom and a new life—the life I dream about, the life portrayed on my dream board.
I glance at Alek. He looks healthy, leaner since I last saw him three months ago.
What would have happened if he hadn’t shown up? I would have been delivered to Charlie, and then… goose bumps appear on my arms and I cross them at my chest, hugging myself. I silently thank my lucky stars.
Alek is squeezing the steering wheel with a death grip but doesn’t say anything. I appreciate that he’s giving me time and space. I’m thankful I’ll be safer in his apartment…
For now.
“Drive faster, Alek, please.”
And don’t stop.
The mess will catch up with me soon enough. It always does.
Chapter Three
