Chapter 1- Just walk away

I kept walking through the forest and I knew this had to change. I have been wondering around in the forest for five years in the same clothes I ran away in. Time has definitely taken its toll on them and they we falling apart. My shirt was dull and caked in mud and extremely too small with it barley covering above my belly button.

My pants, amazingly, still fit but they were covered in patches that I had hastily sew on with *ahem* items I had borrowed from houses along the roads. 

Yes I steal but I have to! It’s the only way I have survived this long. I guess you’re thinking ‘Why doesn’t she take some clothes then geez!’ but trust me; I only steal when I have to. Sometimes I can’t find any berries in the small forest where I dwell. I don’t take so much so that I am noticed.  I drink from the lake and I usually sneak into town to use the facilities at the gym. Now there is a reason I’m living in the forest.

My mother and father were very rich people. My father was a CEO and my mother; well she’s really just along for the money. I truly doubt she cares the least bit for him. I was there first child but when I was born they knew my mother had an affair. My hair was purple and red, the color of a berry’s hair! That’s when the happy demeanor started to crack. That happy family everyone used to see on the outside was now tumbling down and everyone could see it. In this world, it was quite a disgrace to be a berry much less has an affair with one! My mother and father refused to believe I was there’s and left me to grow up alone and locked in my room for my whole life only escaping so I could be homeschooled. In the end I got my GED and ran. I was only 16 then and the only things I had were the clothes on my back and my sleeping bag.

I ran up to their house to see if I could sneak in and get some clothes but my wicked mother was always home so I couldn’t ever get in. Then I saw something that broke my heart. I saw my little sister Jessica sitting with her face towards the wall with the only toy she had.

“Honey what are you doing out here?” I asked her my heart heavy with sadness. They treated her no different than me. I guessed she was an accident because my mother hates children.

“Momma say I am ugwy an I don’t desewve to be inside.” Her eyes watered and she hugged tightly onto her doll. Well she was exceptionally smart but that was going to be put to waste.

I patted her head and said “I’ll be back to sneak you into your room in a minute, stay here” She nodded and started sucking her thumb.

I stealthily snuck up to the window to see if anyone was inside. My parents were fighting…again. I rolled my eyes and snuck up closer putting my ear to the window.

“I TOLD YOU SHE WAS A MISTAKE! I DID NOT WANT ANOTHER CHILD!” My mother screamed at my father throwing her hands up in the air in frustration.

“YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CAREFULL YOU DIMWIT!” he raised his hand as if to slap her when I heard a small voice.

“Momma Dada fight?” she asked innocently with tears running down her face.

He lowered his hand and said to my mother

“You’re lucky this time.” My mother gave him one last look and he stalked out of the room.

  

I rubbed my neck and closed my eyes to prevent myself from crying. It was my life copied onto her. If I would have stayed I could have protected her from those monsters.  Now instead of being locked in her room she was locked outside like a dog and she still loved them.

That’s when I turned my back and I walked. I walked far away from all of the problems, from all of the heartache just like I did five years ago. I’m 21 and I still can’t face up to my fears.