Escha Rose

Staying

I hadn't expected expected her to ask that so fast. She must've noticed my hesitation because she changed the subject fast. ''It's okay, we can eat first.'' she says very quickly. I feel that i might get whip lash. We eat in silence but i am afraid that she will not like what i have to say so i keep quiet. As if reading my mind, she suddenly pipes up '' i will not judge you for what you have to say, i promise.'' she smiles at me. "I...killed my father! But it was in self defense you must understand. He has hurt me and hurt me and he told me he was going to kill me after he r***d me. He broke me. Please understand." i cry. "do not turn me in please , i will leave-" she put her hand up and cut me off. ''hush love. it is okay. i will not do such a thing. You are too young to be on your own, hush now." she soothes just like a mother would. "Would you like to sleep?" she asks and i mumble an incoherent answer while nodding my head. 

It takes us a while to get to the top of the stairs because of my leg, but she doesn't seem to mind at all. I want to bathe, but i also want to sleep. Maybe i can sleep now and she'll let me bathe later. She lays me down and goes to leave. I whimper but otherwise stay quiet. She is gone for a few minutes and comes back with a big t-shirt and some shorts. "Lacey?" I start off. "Yes, Rose?" i take a deep breath and pray to god above she won't tell me to leave. '' Can.. Can i stay?" i ask. "It won't be for long. Just until i get some money... please" i plead close to tears. "Yes hun, i wasn't going to just leave you, your 12. I would never do that to you Rose, i would never leave you." Lacey says to me keeping eye contact. 

And that's when i lose it. I  cry and tell her everything. From the moment my mom left me when it was really my dad who killed her. To the part were my father constantly abused me. He only r***d me 3 times but that never stopped him from touching me. I tell her how i killed him and how I ran. I told her every single thing that was on my mind. Lacey let me talk and she listened. She held me while i cried and told me i would be okay. She let me know that she'd always be there. For that, i am entirely grateful. 

She bathed me and checked over my stitches and over my healing ribs. I began to get drowsy so she lay me down. But i wouldn't let her leave, i couldn't. She changed and laid down with me. She told me about her life and what she did growing up. Told me about her mom and her father, she really loved them. They died in a car crash-together-holding hand. I closed my eyes, ready to get the day over with. Just before the darkness consumed me i heard her say "Escha, your safe now. I promise, i would never leave you. EVER." I might actually be safe here . And with that thought I drifted off to sleep.