We drive down to a hotel in Fort Myers and I book a room for the week. While Amara comes around, I might as well get legal. I need to find a lawyer and get emancipated. I need to take my license out and get myself a job. "I want a king bed and I want one of the rooms with a safe." I say to the agent and I pay cash, I grab the keycard from the agent and pull my bag with me. I take the elevator to the fourth floor and try to find my room with everyone in the hall.
I try to find my room quickly, the hotel looks brand new, well-kept and exceptionally clean. The rug on the ground looks new, the walls freshly painted, and the decoration is minimal, but it blends perfectly with its theme. I sigh when I finally find my room, I open the door and quickly lock it after me. I need to look around the room before I settle, I walk in the bathroom and inspect the shower and toilet. Everything is clean, I put my bag and backpack inside the shower as I check the rest of the room.
I open the big closet doors, there isn't any signs of roaches or bed bugs. There are some clothe hangers in there, an ironing table, an iron and lots of room for more clothes and shoes. It has many shelves to store things. I inspect the drawers for the same, the box spring and the mattress and bedsheets. There is no sign of roaches, bed bugs or rat droppings. Satisfied that I won't leave this place with little friends in between my things I walk back to the bathroom to get my bags.
I unpack what little I brought with me, I grab my folder with the money, I take out enough to get myself a new cellphone, a laptop, some clothes, shoes, toiletries and anything else I might need. The cellphone is the first stop I need to get myself a lawyer as soon as possible. I grab some underwear, my tight blue knee length jeans and my deep V-neck red t-shirt. I take my clothes off and jump in the shower. I dress myself, brush my hair into a high ponytail and pull on my red fila sneakers.
On the small desk in the room there is a small pad of paper and a pen. I sit on the chair and make a list of everything I will need so I don't have to guess or go overboard. I recheck my list, after making sure to have written everything I'll need I leave after grabbing my wallet, I put my room key in it and grab my car keys on the way out. I make sure the door is closed after me and walk down the hall to the elevator. I walk towards the front desk and ask for the nearest phone store or mall.
She explains there is a cricket shop down the road. I smile and thank her. The bell on the door jingles when I enter, I chose the latest model of Samsung and paid to get it connected with a number from this state. I thank the people there and set up my email, cloud and GPS. I look for the nearest moll and drive there. I park and take my list out; I enter shop after shop and store after store. I cross the item off the list once it's been purchased and make sure everything on my list is in my hands.
By the time I finished shopping I was exhausted and starving. I opened the back door of the truck and put everything on the backseat. I bought some food on the way to the hotel. I pull all my bags with me as best as I can, and the bellboy comes running out to help me once he sees me struggling. We talk and laugh as we walk to my room. He puts my things on my bed and leaves after I give him a tip for his help. I quickly start unpacking everything and putting it all away.
I connect my laptop to charge along with my cellphone. I start messing with the cellphone until I found a lawyer. I write down his number and address. I'll call him tomorrow; I take another shower and head off to bed. I have a bad feeling about everything especially this place. Something in me is pulling me north, with desperation. I sigh looking at the roof when I open my eyes in the morning. I couldn't even sleep well, I feel restless. I know this isn't the place I should be at; something wants me to run and run fast.
I pull the sheets off me and I walk into the bathroom to get ready for my day. I call the lawyer once finished with my shower and make an appointment for later. He accepted my case and was sure he could help me. I need a change in every aspect of the word. The lawyer went through everything I had against my parents the videos, photos and bank statements of the money I earned by myself. I had photos of the conditions I lived in; I didn't want any doubt in a judge's mind that I can take care of myself since I have been doing it since I was ten.
One week after I hired him, we had a hearing, the judge emancipated me on the spot and approved my case to file charges against my parents based on the evidence in my hands. Six months later in the absence of my parent's presence they were charged and prosecuted for child neglect and child abuse. They have an arrest warrant against them both as soon as they step foot in US soil. By that time, I was seventeen and things are looking up. I followed my gut and moved up north once emancipated.