By the time dawn broke, it had rained so hard that her clothes stuck to her like a second layer of skin. It had soaked through her rucksack, but she had to keep moving so shelter was not an option.
The more distance between her and the house that bore so many broken promises and convoluted memories, the better.
She stopped to look around her surroundings to find she was in a quaint little village and to her right was a little brick bus stop shelter that could partially hide her from view.
She tucks herself into the far corner and peels open her bag and takes out the giant bar of chocolate and eats just a line of squares, as she wasn’t sure how long she would need to make it last, as she still needed to get further away, as she was not out of his reach and sphere of influence yet.
To the world, he was an upstanding gentleman in the world of law, but at home, the gentleman persona was dropped like a dog shedding its winter coat. But she had no proof, except for the colorful bruises she wore.
In the last 5 years, she had lost contact with everyone, even her parents who were always told that she was too busy so that they couldn’t see the bruises, but they took that to mean she didn’t care.
Through her desperation, she had managed to get online and search incognito on the slowest smartphone in the history of mankind. But, she had even lost that connection now. It was lucky though, she had a good memory for numbers.
She had waited three and a half months for the back door to be left unlocked, she was starting to think that he wouldn't forget again. Her ears had become trained to hear the click of the lock, but last night the ominous sound didn't happen. She had grabbed the hidden rucksack she had packed ready for such an occasion, opened the door as quietly as a mouse and made her escape.
She felt for her locket and opened up the heart shape to gaze upon the faces that she was doing this for.
She smiled as she imagined what it would be like to meet them in the flesh again.
All she needed to do was find them.
To be Continued