On The Run

ON THE RUN

Is he following me, I look around and keep running. My mascara is running down my face and my heartbeat is going a million miles an hour. I’m not sure if I can keep up this pace for much longer.

I turn a corner and see a few garbage cans in the ally, I have to come out of the shadows to cross the street…Is it worth it? I look around and sprint as fast as I can, I made it! I grab a big cardboard box and cover myself so I can hide and catch my breath.

I have a plan to go to the next bus stop, jump on it until I run out of money. I look in my pocket and take out my wallet- I forgot I just got payed from babysitting for the month. Thank goodness I tell myself. I have to distance myself for now from my brother, it’s the only way to keep him safe.

I sit back and remember the wonderful memories of my brother and I playing in the sprinkler, laughing,, and rolling in the ground while our dog barks at us. I long to see my brother again. Our parents died in a car crash a few sago and we got fostered together. The ‘new parents’ are very mean to us, they make us sleep in the same bed, give us second hand clothes, and give us little food to eat and do all of the chores. I am very protective of my brother and try to take care of him the best I can. Until…..

I was walking my dog and saw a van pull up beside a house down the street from me and two men walked into a house. The day was beautiful, the sun was shining the wind gave no relief to the heat. I could hear the birds chirping in the trees, the smell of fresh grass just cut. Then I heard two very loud pops. I froze, and looked towards the house where I heard the sound.

One man ran out with a shiny box and the other just behind him, he was carrying a gun. I was stuck like I was glued to the sidewalk, my eyes were wide, I dropped the leash and I tried to scream but nothing came out!

The guy holding the gun grabbed me and threw me into the van, and the van took off. The guy in the passenger seat looked at me and said “shut up, or you will get hurt”. He crawled in the back, I tried to move away from him, but he was strong. He grabbed my hands and zip tied them behind my back. He crawled back in the front and was talking to his buddy, I couldn’t bare to hear what they were talking about because I knew it was about me. I keep quiet, hoping they wouldn’t hurt me.

We were driving for hours, before we came to a stop. The two guys one named Rand and the other guy was Deisal, I’m assuming nic names. It was bad enough that I will never forget what they look like, sound like, or how vulgar they are. We were inside of a garage when Deisal opened the van door and dragged me out. He once again told me to shut up. We walked down the stairs and threw me on a chair and tied a rope around the zip ties and chair. I was begging him not to hurt me, I did not want to look in his eyes . I could hear banging up stairs and Rand’s voice hollering and laughing! Deisal ran up the stairs.

I finally got myself free, by rubbing my hands against the steel chair.I was panting and looking around how to get out of here, and FAST! I see a tiny window behind the furnace and opened it slowly and wiggles myself out of it.

I ran as fast as I could out in the night, looking over my shoulder. I can see some garbage cans in the ally, I cover myself with the cardboard box and catch my breath. I think of better day with my brother, then look for something to disguise my appearance. I find a nice coat on the top of the bin, put it on. The coat was way to big for me but it was warm and it will do.

I catch a bus, town after town and hide in many boxes, and under many bridges before I could muster up the confidence to go to the police.I still had on the nice oversized coat on when I walked into the police station one rainy day. I fell in front of the desk and someone picked me up and brought me to a room. I told them everything. Finally it was over.

I could feel something poking in my ribs.I felt it many times before over the months of running, today I will find out what it is. I ripped the inside of the pocket and reached way down to the bottom and pulled out a black book, it was very old leather. I looked at it and wondered what was inside.

I walked walked into the bathroom at the police station and opened that little black book! There was 200/$100 bills inside.my eyes went wide and my hands were trembling and I looked in the little black book to find out why there was so much money. On the last page it read:

———————————————————————————————————————If you found this coat, it means my kids threw away my jacket in a dumpster or gave it to a second hand store. This jacket is my most prized possession, my wife bought it for me for our 50th wedding anniversary. I hope you can use the money, please use it wisely. My only last wish is for you to please keep the jacket, it’s the only thing I ask for. From: this dying old man.

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I must have sobbed for an hour in the bathroom that day. it’s my 18th birthday in two days. Finally I will be able to get my brother and find us a place to live.