An Elementals choice

Many centuries ago, the Fey choose to distance themselves from the human world. Humans were closed mined, selfish, and greedy. The modern world believes the fey to be nothing more than myths and legends nothing but stories.     "What the hell do you think you are doing" I scream as I try and fail to cover my naked body. Why did mother let her lover put up a see-through shower curtain? I continue to scream at the ape named Ian to go away. Mother comes around the corner saying, " what's going on?". Ian smiles looking me over again and turns to her and goes "so there you are". Mother turns to me "what are you yelling about". Ah, I look at her in disbelief "are you serious!! Your creep of a boyfriend is watching me shower!!! Make him go away!" I yelled at them both. Mother turns to him "come on love" she then turns around to me and snipped "why would he be looking at you when he has me?".      I am so over this. I am so tired of hiding my body out of fear of mother's men and what they might do to me. She doesn't care about me so why should I care about her. This is the last time. I get dressed into black low waist boot leg jeans which I am always afraid will slid off, so I anchor it with a black cowboy belt with a rose on the buckle. I sigh, my waist is so tiny compared to my hips that nothing ever fits properly. I climb into my favourite bra with a butterfly strap on the back which looks so cute in my B cup not that anyone has ever seen as I wear baggy tops, but I like to feel sexy underneath, cause why not. I grab a black singlet top and a green tee-shirt to put on, I catch myself in the mirror I am about 5 foot 4 which is tall for a girl I guess, my ribs show through my skin (I should eat better I think to myself), my arms have muscles and look toned, I look so pale with my blonde to red hair. I shrug and finish getting dressed. With my look complete and comfy I packed as many cloths as possible and essential items into my old school satchel bag and one of my brothers old hiking backpacks. As I am now 2 weeks from turning 18 and I finished high school a month ago there is no one that's really going to notice that I am gone, mother won’t care. I waited for the noise in the next room to go quite and then grabbing my jacket and bags I slipped out the back door of the house. As I walk away angry crying, I realize that I have nowhere to go. I spend that first night wondering around the streets and parks as I tried to think through my options.     As the sun rose, I had decided that I would go see my older brother. I believe he said that he was going to the big city to find work and was working at a construction site by the Yarra river. I guess it's somewhere to start. Now all I need is for the bank to open so I can withdraw all of my saving not that there is much money as mother always wants 20% of whatever I earn. I should probably quit my job, but the Fish and Chips shop doesn't open until 11am and I want to be out of town long before then, maybe a note under the door? Hmm, I am so hungry I didn't get to eat anything yesterday as mother never keeps any food in the house and if she does cook everyone gets food poisoning. There is a reason why I work at a fast-food place.  I slowly walk back towards the shopping district. Nothing is open yet. I double check my pockets for same money. Pulling my hand out with some coins, wow that's not going to go far. So, I walk around behind the shops looking here and there. No way, is that a box of fruit? I race overlooking around me and seeing no one I opened the box. Yes, a few bruises but it looks like it's eatable. I flick out my pen knife and cut into the fruit and start eating.       Finally, the bank is open. I go over to the cashier and wait for her to sort her things out. "Can I help you dear?" she asked. "Yes, please I would like to withdraw all my money. There should be about $579." I respond as I hand over my passbook. She smiles at me taking the passbook and looking it up. Her smile slowly turns into a frown of concern "I am so sorry dear, but I think you made a mistake, there is only $45.67". "What now?!" I exclaim. She looks at her computer screen nodding "Oh yes dear, it says that you withdraw $530 two days ago" she turns to me "don't you remember sweetie". I grab at my face that b***h, mother has emptied my account again god only knows what she spent it all on. I turn to the lady and ask her to close down my account as there is no point having a bank account that mother can access.     So now I have just under $50 to buy a bus ticket to the big smoke. Great. I go to the bus terminal dropping a note under the door where I work say I quit, and I will contact them about my last pay cheque later and NOT to give it to my mother. Hopefully, they can follow instructions but I'm not holding my breath. I go up to the booking office "how much for a ticket to the city?" I ask the man in the booth. He looks up and says "$84.50 including tax". Seriously! I think as I look at him with big sad grey eyes as I try to look sad and not as pathetic as I feel as I place the few notes and mixed coins that I have onto the countertop. He looks at them and moves them around before looking back at me " your short". "But that's all I have" I state pleadingly. He looks at me "So, like I care" he says in a monotone. I don't know if I should cry or scream. While I stand there not sure what my next move is an arm reaches over me and places more money on the counter. I hear a deep voice "that cover it?". The man behind the counter counts it, gives me a ticket, and gives the man behind me the change. The older man behind me gives me the change "you keep it, you look like you need it". I stumble over my words as yes, I need the money but nothing is ever for free. I turn to the old man " I don't know if I can accept that much esp from a stranger, but I do appreciate it". He laughs " don't worry about it, I know what it's like to be down on your luck, just promise me that you’re not running from the law or anything like that' he says. "No no I'm not. I promise. I just need a fresh start away from toxic people, that's all. Amm I can send you the money once I get a job" I promise the old man. He shakes his head "no need. But if you like when you are doing well and see someone in need help them out. The world would be a much better place if people just supported each other". "Ok, thanks, I well promise I guess" I say as I walk away to do a last-minute bathroom break before the bus gets here.