“Oh my God, are you having a nervous breakdown or something? I’ll call 9-1-1. Hang in there, babe.”
“Don’t touch me!”
“Is this man hurting you, miss?” a security guard asks.
“No, no, I just need some air,” I tell them.
“You’re outside,” the guard says.
“I need more air.” There isn’t enough air on this freaking planet right now to keep me from suffocating as long as Teak is within my sight.
The guard grabs Teak by the arm and pulls him away. “I’ll call you, babe.”I’m changing my phone number.“I love you!”I love me more. “You’re going to be okay. I’ll take care of you, I promise.” I won’t be okay until I’m far away from here. From him. From control. From anyone who thinks they know how I feel. From anyone like Dad.
With the coast clear of Teak and the security guards, I run toward the street. There’s a city bus pulling up, and I don’t know where the hell it’s going, but I’m out of here. I toss my cell phone into the grass before stepping off the curb and climbing onto the bus that will take me to where I’m meant to be.
