I had come of age, everything in my house was still the same, including the mistreatment by my mother and Victor, it was something never ending, although to my joy I did not get pregnant when that idiot raped me for the first time since I was infertile. By saying "for the first time" I mean that he kept doing it every time my mother went out but I managed to sneak out for a few hours to the house of Messrs. Paterson since they let me stay with them, they were the only ones besides Peter that they treated me with affection and respect, the day after my virginity was taken away when I went out to throw away the garbage, the Patersons had shown concern for me since they had heard everything: the blows, insults and my screams, without avoiding it I had confessed to them amid crying what Victor had done to me, they were furious but knowing that if my mother interfered she would do something to me, they chose not to intervene and remind me that I could stay at his house as long as necessary if he husband from my mother I wanted to do it again and I did so, so I went back to being abused a few times when he simply managed to prevent my escape successfully having realized beforehand that that generous family helps me.
When Peter and I came of age he had moved to Gotham City to study at a university since he got a scholarship, that was two weeks ago, so he talked to me on the phone he lives in an apartment by himself and to him I would like me to move in with him, I would also like but I don't have any money, even though I was very happy that he got to university but I couldn't help but miss him with all my heart, his parents also moved to that city since they wanted to be close to your child.
I was in my bored room, it was about 5 pm I was lying on my bed with my head hanging to the side of the bed while I ate some potato chips that I had bought with a ticket that I had found on the sidewalk when I had gone shopping Some cans of beer to my mother and Victor, I had taken advantage of buying them since it was one of the few times that I could enjoy those salty delights, when I was licking her fingers savoring the snack I heard shouts of joy, for a moment I thought that again They were having sex but when I heard the words "steal" and "money" I had shown interest, I quickly got out of bed and taking advantage of the fact that the door was closed, I pressed my ear to the door to listen better.
Apparently Victor had stolen 20 thousand dollars and had hidden it in my mother's room, when they began to plan what they will do with such an amount I walk away from the door, at that moment the phone rings, almost half an hour later my mother arrives To the room.
Victor and I are going out with some friends .- says my mother putting on a dress with effort in her robust .- I do not want you to call us to bother and ruin our night
I will not .- I say cutting looking at the sky through the window and feeling the cool breeze.
Without saying anything else, she leaves the room, zipping up her dress, at that moment an idea begins to grow in my mind, when they were far from here I would take the money to leave, I quickly look for something to pack the few things I have but at Finding only my old backpack I discard it since nothing would fit, I immediately remember the set of suitcases that my mother has, I decide to take out my clothes and others to order them, having them ready while I wait.
I go out to the living room to watch television and thus wait patiently, I turn it on and change the channels when I see that a cartoon is playing I decide to watch it animated, after several minutes they leave their room.
We will go and remember girl, do not ruin our night .- says my mother taking Victor's hand intertwining their fingers
Don't worry, I won't. - I tell them with a fake smile, staring at them, thinking that they can't imagine what I'll do tonight.
Let's go .- says Victor with an annoyed sigh
As I continue to watch television, they head to the door to leave, when I hear the car start I move my fingers on the couch, counting the seconds when I hear them drive away until the sound of the vehicle is not heard. As if a spring had propelled me, I go to their room and immediately take out a large bright orange suitcase from my mother's closet, I leave it on the floor, to look for the money until when I see a badly placed floorboard, I smiled ironic
That man is an idiot .- I say to myself lifting the table letting it fall shaking my hands, I see a travel bag, I open it seeing the large amount of money with a smile .- bingo!
After taking out the bag with my left hand, I grab the suitcase with my right to go to my room humming a song, when I arrive I put the money first, starting to pack, then the clothes and shoes so that the bundles are not seen of tickets, at the end I close the suitcase by lowering it from the bed, in my backpack I put what did not fit and in a handbag I had put several tickets for the plane ticket as well as other things.
Once I make sure that nothing else is missing, I see myself in the full-length mirror that I was well dressed with a white V-neck blouse, red pants and my old white converse, I go to the living room with the suitcase, the backpack and the handbag on one shoulder, I take out a page from a notebook with a pen to dial Peter's number on the phone.
After a few beeps I hear Peter's voice.
Hi Peter, it's me Brooke, do you still live alone in your apartment? .- I ask running my hand through my hair caught in a French braid.
Yes, I have not found someone yet, why? .- He asks me curious.
Because I could arrive today and be your partner .- I say happy .- I got money to go
Seriously? How did you get it? .- question clearly interested.
I'll tell you when I get there, I promise, what's your address and apartment number? .- Asked looking through the window, even though I knew my mother and Victor would arrive until dawn.
After writing the address and others, I say goodbye to Peter promising him that I would get there well, after putting away the paper and my pen, an idea crosses my mind after taking my suitcase and backpack from the house I go to the garage to get a bottle gasoline plus some matches.
While I empty the gasoline inside the house, taking care that it does not fall on me, I remember everything that had happened feeling satisfied with what I am about to do, I end up at the entrance of the house, leaving the gasoline on the ground, leaving the home to get a match
In this way my freedom will begin, burning my past .- I say to myself with a smile lighting the fire .- to be reborn from the ashes, like a phoenix my rebirth will be in flames
The house ignites in flames when I throw the fire, with a smile I close my eyes making my head slightly back, I open my eyes to see my mother among the flames feeling the familiar sensation that I have when my hallucinations are present.
You are a damn brat, you will never get rid of your past .- says my mother's hallucination.
I think I already did .- I say smiling even though it is not real .- You just lost, bitch
After putting on my backpack, I grab my suitcase to get away from there after that image left as soon as it appeared, after two hours of walking through those streets of my hometown of Las Vegas, full of casinos, hotels and others I arrive at airport, I buy my ticket to go through security successfully, I wait for my plane with my things happy for having achieved it and imagining the reaction that my mother and Victor will have. After almost half an hour waiting, I get on my plane, straight to my destination
Almost two hours of flight in which I was nervous due to the turbulence being my first time, I arrive in Gotham after going down I feel calm because I am back on dry land, I go through my things taking an hour to have them, when I see the airport clock I realize that it is already ten at night, I immediately go out to take a taxi when I get into one after waiting almost 20 minutes, I give the address of the building, on the way I see the buildings and architecture of the city, without a doubt It was very different from Las Vegas it lacked lights, flashy signs, here is more gloomy but I'll get used to it.
Upon arrival I pay and the driver helps me get my things after thanking him, I enter the building greeting the doorman, walking to the elevator pressing the floor number, upon arrival I leave with my backpack hanging and my suitcase dragging, tired, I find the apartment Peter knocked on the door.
My best friend opens the door, he is taller than me, his skin is fair, black hair and eyes are gray like liquid silver, when he sees me he smiles and hugs me, I also hug him happy to see him and have what I had always longed for: freedom .