reaching a hand out toward me. "How long

offered me shelter and promised me friendship and protection, and I saw nothing but a poisonous snake. I didn't yell, neither di

d. "Five hundred dollars? That's what my life is worth to you. That is how cheap you rate

pposed to go this far!" Tasha's defense was dumb and pitiful. Frankli

up behind my back? You could have done that without ruining me like this." I looked straig

ing. Chill out, and don't play th

mage your joke has done to me?" I asked, my voice risi

ntly replaced by a cold, hard rod of fury in my spine. I am not safe here, and from all indicat

rying to regain control from the initial shock of being found out. "Your dad hates y

her second in this house with you, Tasha, I replied

nto my duffel bag. I crammed everything into the canvas sack in a hurry, and didn't fold anything. I jus

alling from the kitchen, asking what the noise was about, but I was already

shabby, grey building that smelled like diesel fumes and desperation. I bought a ticket to the biggest city on th

amount of money, no friends, and a baby growing inside me, the future was terrifying, but for the first time

like the maw of a giant beast. As I stepped up to board,

discover that it was just the ticket inspector, a grumpy man with nicotine-sta

to him and climbed onto the bus. I searched for a seat and fin

ing shockwaves through my sensitive stomach. I drifted in and out of disturbed sl

t the beautiful sunrise you see in movies. It was grey light revealing

, the rumble of subway trains beneath the grille I stood on. It was a sensory ove

I knew was that I couldn't stop moving, or the reality of my situation woul

e sidewalks were cleaner, and the people walked faster and wore suits that cost more

black marble fountain outside a massive corporate high-rise, just to rest my feet for a se

eyes, sway

ref

ep, smooth, and

t into a man exiting the building. I grasped at his arm like a lifeboat, to stead

of frozen espresso. He didn't look irritated, but looked intensely focused, analyzing me like a complex contrac

ut," he stated, not as