An Escape

Blood pounds in Davi’s ears as he shoves the last of his clothes into his bag and slips on his raven black jacket. With one last glance at his room, Davi swings his bag over his shoulder and leaves, not bothering to close the door behind him.

The house is cool and dark, all the lights shut off for the night. For once, the only sound that can be heard is the sound of the wind bumping branches onto the window panes. Never again will he cower at the creepy sounds that the lifeless house makes. Passing the window, a wave of anxiety floods his brain. No one knows where he is going, this is obviously the plan, but still. He hasn’t even told his significant other, Dread, that he is leaving. Davi plans to call them when he gets to the bus, but he worries. What if they get mad at him? What if Dread dumps him because of this?

The black velvet carpet bunches up under Davi’s foot and a small succession of thuds can be heard and he tries to catch himself before he can fall. Luckily, his years of ballet classes pay off because Davi manages to steady himself. He stands there, frozen in the darkness and waits. One minute passes, then two, then five and he decides he isn't going to be caught and continues forward, watching his steps this time.

Swiftly, he makes it to the long staircase, mind racing. Where will he go? What will he do for money? He can’t use his mom's credit card forever and there’s no way that anyone is going to hire him, wherever he goes. He has bright pink hair, grungy clothes and no work experience or a resume. He’s doomed. Suddenly, the floor beneath Davi seems to disappear and his stomach is shot up into his throat. His vision goes blurry and pain shoots through his head, back and legs. The motion stops quickly with a loud flop and his chest tightens, nausea swelling up in Davi as he listens to the loud thumping of his heart, trying his best to quiet it in the darkness of his own closed eyes.

Light from the front door window shines into Davi’s view as his eyes flutter open. The pain subsides but the fear does not. Davi fell down the tail end of his long staircase after failing to watch his steps. He doesn’t dare to move, but after ten minutes of laying on the cold white and black tile floor, nothing happens. Before he can move, a small black shape slinks out of the shadows, walking up to him slowly. She purrs softly and Davi smiles.

“Hiya Bubber.” He whispers, sitting up to scratch behind the ears of the soft jet black feline. A small pang of worry and sadness hits him. The only thing Davi will miss from this house is his cat, Bubble. She is too old for him to actually be able to take her anywhere but he hates the thought of leaving her. Cracks echo down the hall as Davi stands up. He smiles down at the cat circling his feet. “Bye, Bubbles, stay safe for me? OK?” She meows up at him and meows quietly.

Patting the back pocket of his light blue jeans to make sure his phone didn’t get lost in the tumble, Davi hurries forward. The chill of the silver door knob sends a shiver up Davi’s spine, the last thing to do before he’s free, open the door. Trying, and failing, to push his continuous thoughts away, he creaks the door open and steps out into the warm summer night.

Everything stops as Davi looks up at the bright moon, illuminating the surrounding clouds with an iridescent glow. Davi’s breath slows to a calm pace and he smiles, closing his eyes. For once in his life, the constant anxiety and fear of what will happen has been brought to a halt. He sits there, listening to the crickets and enjoying the feeling of the nice breeze on his face. He always hated the cold, so a summer's breeze is one of the best feelings for him. Davi would have continued standing there for an hour or two before going to the bus station, but the sound of an owl nearby prompts him to open his eyes.

“Bus station,” he reminds himself calmly. Taking in the beautiful view of the black, white and red tulips growing in the flowerbed at his front door for the last time, he smiles and runs into the night.