Escaping and Finding My Salvation

TW SA Ann Marie I closed my eyes as Arden kissed my forehead and whispered, "Happy birthday," in my ear. He was trying to be quiet because he thought the other girls were sleeping, but I knew they weren’t. None of us ever slept when Arden wanted to wish one of us a Happy Birthday. This wasn’t new to any of us. For the last two years, he's made it a point to alternate between us weekly. The only bright side was that Arden used protection. He couldn’t get one of us pregnant and blow his golden predator opportunity. Being in the foster system sucked. I’ve been in it since I was three. Some were good homes, most weren't. I’ve been touched numerous times over the years, physically and sexually. But it was Arden who took my virginity. He took all of our virginities. There were four of us. Heather, Jayla, me, and Angie. They were still 17, tonight I turned 18. Weeks ago, we had the place to ourselves on a rare night. I snuck into Arden’s office and stole our records. The folders held our birth certificates, Social Security cards, and, in mine, my high school diploma. Our birthdays were weeks apart. I had told them the moment I turned 18, I was gone. I advised them to hide the records and get gone too. But I knew those three would wait for each other. I just couldn’t. I needed to leave. The door clicked shut. Angie moved first, then Jayla and Heather came to my bed. They climbed into it with me, and while I cried, they held me. “You’ll be gone by morning,” Angie whispered. “You’ll never have to endure his touch again.” “I’m sorry, I can’t wait for you all,” I whispered. “Nonsense. This is your opportunity. You need to take it,” Heather said. “We scoured the couch cushions and the laundry room. I even broke into the grocery tin and took half. Happy birthday,” Jayla said, handing me a sandwich baggie stuffed with cash and coins. “I counted it. There is $111.73.” “Thank you so much, you guys.” They sat on their beds as they watched me get ready to leave. I emptied my school backpack. I didn’t need it for school anymore. I had graduated early a month ago, in April, because I knew this would happen. I didn’t tell anyone about graduating either, not that Arden or Maureen would care. They only cared about the monthly check. I packed underwear, shorts, T-shirts, deodorant, my toothbrush, and my brush. I figured I’d get more later, down the road. I took the money out of the baggie and stuffed it into my back pocket. I put the change in my front pocket. I looked around the room. “Maybe I should take my pillow?” “I would,” Heather said. “And take the small blanket and a hoodie just in case. I know it’s hot right now, but you never know.” I nodded. The pillow wasn’t big. It was the size of a bath mat. I shoved it into my backpack along with the thin blanket, which wasn’t much bigger. Jayla gave me her hoodie. It had Jason Voorhees on it, and it said, ‘Bitches Be Trippin’. I smiled as I put that in the pack too. I put the pack on my shoulders and turned fully to the girls. We all hugged one last time, and then I sat on the edge of my bed while they got back into theirs and I waited. I had to make sure Arden and his wife were completely asleep. Hours went by. The girls fell asleep. I looked at the clock on Heather’s bedside table, and it read 2:00 a.m. I still waited. Finally, around 3, Arden started snoring. Once he started snoring, I knew nothing would wake him. I checked my shoelaces to make sure they were still tied, then stood. I looked at the girls one more time. I was going to miss them, but I had to get out. I couldn’t take another night with Arden. I walked to the bedroom door and opened it. Luckily, the hinges made no sound. I closed the door silently and walked carefully away toward the top of the stairs. Step by step, I walked down the stairs. I skipped over the third stair because I knew it creaked. When I reached the bottom floor, I picked up the pace and quickly went through the living room to the kitchen. I grabbed three bananas, two apples, and an orange from the fruit bowl on the island, plus three water bottles from the pantry. I quickly packed it all and made my way to the side door. I slipped out, closed the door behind me, and then sprinted across the backyard. I went to the back gate and opened it. I looked back at the house one more time. I raised both hands, gave it the ol’ one-finger salute, then turned and took off. The bus stop was three miles away. I ran as fast as I could. I was lucky I was in good shape thanks to track. I ran for a mile before I felt safe enough to slow down to a brisk walk. An hour later, I had made it to the bus stop. I sat to wait. I knew I had another hour before the buses ran for the day. I took out a bottle of water and a banana from my pack. I sighed deeply as I ate. I was finally free, and by the time Arden and Maureen realized I was gone, I’d hopefully be far, far away. The bus stop was one of the first stops for our area. When I heard the bus engine, I stood up. It stopped in front of me. I pulled out a couple of bills from my pocket and took a seat in the back. The bus stopped seven times before I got off. I walked a mile until I reached a truck stop. I watched a tanned man with a great big belly and gray, wiry hair march toward a blue semi. “Hey, can I get a ride?” “Sorry, darlin', I don’t pick up lot lizards.” “Um, what is a lot lizard?” He stopped walking and turned to look at me. His bushy eyebrows shot up. “Runaway?” He asked without answering. “Foster kid, just turned 18, got kicked out.” “Oh, hon, that’s the dumps. Okay, jump in.” I thanked him quickly, and I got in his semi. “You know, a young thing like you needs to be careful riding with strangers like this. There are some unsavory people in this world,” he said as he started his truck and then started to drive out. “I know about unsavory. I’ve lived with one. I didn’t get that vibe from you.” “You’re right, I’m not one of them. But still, I have granddaughters your age. My name is Bill. Where are you headed?” “I’m Ann Marie, and anywhere that’s away from California.” “I can take you as far as Flagstaff. That’s in Arizona. I have snacks in the back if you get hungry. Water and juice in the mini fridge.” I looked behind me and was surprised to see a whole living area. I had no idea what Semi’s looked like inside. I heard Bill chuckle. He kept up a running commentary. I nodded and talked a little when he asked questions. He didn’t ask many. He was content to fill the space with his own voice, and I was polite enough to let him. He stopped for gas once we were outside Needles, and I used the bathroom. When he got back into the truck, he put a bag in my lap. I opened it and moaned. Inside was a burger and fries. I dug in. “Thank you,” I said. “You’re a skinny minnie. My Rebecca would skin me alive if I didn’t feed you and she found out about it.” He pulled a can of Sprite from his pocket and set it in the cup holder in front of me. I suddenly wanted to cry. He was so nice, and it had been so long since an adult had treated me kindly. Bill sang to the radio, and when I finished eating and threw the trash into his travel trash bag, I leaned against the window and closed my eyes. I felt safe for the first time ever, and it was with a complete stranger.