The Escape

"Shh!!! He's gonna hear you. Stop doing that! If he hears you, then he'll definitely find me, girl, and that's the last thing I need. Not after getting this far!", Eve said to the gorgeous horse she was trying to steal for her final escape. She was going to wait it out for the owner to fall asleep and take off with the horse. It would be much quicker than trying to make it out of the state on foot. She wasn't going to risk being seen by her boyfriend; if you could call him that.

Eve met Jim one day when she was coming out of the local library and he was walking in. He held the door and complimented her choice in literature. Eve was drawn to that since every other man only ever complimented her beauty or made a comment about her body. Not Jim though. Jim noticed her book. She thanked him, they started discussing the book which led to Jim asking Eve to dinner, and they had been together ever since. Three years ago, today actually. A little ironic considering she's doing everything in her power to escape from him now.

Jim was an extremely affectionate man. He made Eve feel like there was no better woman on this Earth for him beyond a shadow of doubt. She fell deep and she fell fast. Eve was completely swept off her feet by Jim from day one. He did all the little things that proved, not only did he genuinely pay attention and cared, he truly knew her as a person. Her likes, dislikes, hopes, dreams, and fears. He paid attention and took an interest in all of it. She knew he was "the one". Everything was absolutely perfect. So perfect Eve swore she was living in a dream.

After about 6 months, Eve noticed little things started to change about Jim. He would be extremely short tempered with Eve out of nowhere or would pick a fight just to have an excuse to leave. He stopped doing the little things that meant so much to Eve. Even worse, he would complain whenever he had to do anything for Eve that didn't have anything to do with him or that he didn't benefit from. He started making degrading comments to her randomly. The comments turned into screaming derogatory things about her and it didn't even matter who was around when it happened. Jim was out of control and all out of nowhere. How could man who once made her feel like she was the most amazing specimen to grace the planet now be this controlling and obsessive monster?!

Jim continued to do whatever he pleased while he kept Eve stranded in their new farmhouse with acres of property and no vehicle. What Jim forgot, however, was the fact that Eve was unbreakable. She may forget who she is for a while during the romance and minipulation. We all tend to once a charming and handsome young gent comes and sweeps us off of our feet. It's human nature. After a while though, the blinders of infatuation tend to fall off and we remember our worth and break free. While there was no vehicle on acres upon acres of land, the very next farm just beyond those acres had a great big, old barn with a gorgeous mare. That mare was going to be Eve's ticket out of there.

Jim wouldn't be home much longer; he never was. He always made an excuse to leave or would start a fight just so he could leave and avoid Eve all day and night while he ran all around town. Eve was always alone, so she had plenty of time to plan her escape from all of the gaslighting and degrading that Jim had made into a daily routine. She noticed the mare one morning when Jim was minipulating her for his evening out and took her out for breakfast. As soon as she saw that mare, she felt hope. She would run like she never ran before twenty-five minutes after Jim pulled away from the house. She wouldn't stop until she reached that old barn with her gateway to freedom. She tried many times before to flee, but something always led her right back to Jim. The thing is, this time was different. This time there was no going back.

Today Jim started an arguement right on schedule but instead of Eve's plan to leave after Jim, she grabbed a little bag with basically nothing in it and ran. Before she even realized what was happening she was already in the dark farmland Jim owned and the house wasn't even in sight anymore. She could still hear him screaming at her in a distance, but within the three years together Jim had packed on a few pounds and wasn't very fit anymore. He got too comfortable with Eve around and now that would be to her benefit. Pretty soon Eve had reached the old barn. She tripped going in and the farmer heard her. That is what landed her here trying to wait out the old farmer so she could free the mare and finally end all of the torture.

Eve waited about three or four more hours and then, as quietly as possible, her and her new travel partner were on their way. Eve couldn't believe all the things racing through her mind while the wind blew through her hair. She made a promise to herself that once she was on that horse, she would never look back. She took a deep breath, shed a single tear, and rode that horse until the horse couldn't go any further. She broke free, had reached another state, and was ready for a new life. She will never forget her symbol of strength...the old barn. It will forever have such a significant meaning in her life from this day forward. That barn was her ticket to self love. That barn was her hope. That barn was her new life. That barn was her freedom.