Rugged Redemption

Getting Out of Dodge

The house was quiet and dark, just as I had expected. My feet were sore and bleeding from the long walk by the time I reached it. It was midnight. Two hours after I had been stopped. My cellphone battery had died from the many times I had had to use it as a flashlight to suss out whatever was in the bushes or behind me, in front of me. It had been two hours of hell.

After pushing open the door as quietly as possible, I slipped inside. My father’s snores filled the living room. He was a near permanent fixture in his chair, the stench of alcohol hung heavily in the air. Why he bothered even having a room was beyond me. Leaving the phone on the kitchen counter. I hobbled to the bathroom and spent too much time under the hot water. Burning away Officer Decker’s disgusting touch, the mess, the shame. My tears indistinguishable from the water tumbling greedily down to the drain.

Dragging myself to bed, I laid my head down on my pillow and vowed that this was the last night I would spend in this house. At twenty – three, I was running out of time to get my life started on the right foot. I was out of options in this town, but I still had one way to get out of here. There was no avoiding it now. Not when it was painfully apparent that I wasn’t going to be able to do it on my own.

When I woke up in the morning, my father was thankfully gone. I spent some time reflecting on my run-down appearance while second guessing my solution from last night. My hazel eyes were still bright, but their luster had dimmed with the years, dark circles underneath told on my lack of true rest. My skin was in sore need of some sun. The high cheekbones and full lips I had inherited from my mother were always bittersweet reminders of her. I hated them for being my best features. My long, slightly wavy hair had lost its shine a few years back. Once a brilliant gold had now turned a lackluster yellow. Probably a nutritional deficiency of some sort.

I needed a vacation.

So, with tender steps I padded into the kitchen and dialed my sister’s number. How long had it been since our last conversation. Two? Three years now? Not long after she had run off with Thomas the tree hugging hippy from the woods up north. He had come into town four years ago with a whole group of friends. Passing through, they had said. Came by the theater, only place in town that was any fun, and met my sister who was on shift that night. Love at first sight or some such bullshit. Leave it to my sister, the perfect one, to snag a hot tourist within seconds.

“Kait?” Lucille’s worried voice cut through my bitter thoughts. “Kait are you there? I can hear your breathing. Are you in trouble?”

“I am here, sorry just spacing out.” I laughed it off.

“Where are you? Do you need me to come get you?” The worry was still there.

“Yes, if you wouldn’t mind. But not because I am in trouble.” I couldn’t be sure whether I was lying to just her or both of us. “I just wanted to visit with you. It has been a long time.” My voice grew softer, the truth of my admission made me feel like a sap. Who was I to run to my big sis? A pathetic loser? I almost hung up, if not for the sudden change in her disposition.

“You want to visit? That’s great. It has been too long Kait. When would you like me to come get you?”

“Now. Today. Or whenever works for you.” I mumbled trying to stop from sounding too anxious.

“Sure I can do that. It will take me two and a half hours. I will grab my keys and fill up the car. See you soon!”

“Thanks Lucy.” I smiled and hung up the phone. No going back now.

Rushing to my room, I packed my duffle with the good clothes I had left. I put my hard earned and painstakingly saved money in too. Some photos, knickknacks and other mementos went in too. If I had my way about this, I wouldn’t be coming back ever. Then I threw in the extra chargers, my books and some snacks. Ten minutes down, two hours left to go.

***

Standing on the stoop, waiting for her to pull up was almost humiliating. I was saved from any though on account of the fact no one had seen me yet. Lucille was seven minutes late and cutting it close to dad's lunch time. We did not need to run into him today. I needn't have worried too much. A car soon pulled down the shared drive and through the windshield I saw the happy face and auburn hair of my sister.

"Kait!" She shouted out of her window and waved a hand. I ran out to meet her when she stopped. Jumping out she caught me up in a hug. I sunk into it a little too much but how long had it been since I had had normal physical touch? Too long. Eventually we parted, tears hanging around in her blue eyes.

"Hey Lucy." I awkwardly smiled and stood waiting for her to let me know it was okay to get in.

"You have grown up so much." She wiped her eyes. I held up my duffle and she snapped to attention. "Right, here throw it in the trunk."

Duffle stowed, I took my purse and myself to the passenger seat and got into the cleanest car I had ever ridden in. I gathered my purse to me, afraid some part of my messy life might soil it.

"This a rental?" I asked her when she returned and threw the car into reverse.

"Huh? Oh no, it's mine. Do you like it?" She smiled brightly and pulled her sunglasses from the visor and slid them on. I flinched at the action, last night's misery rearing its ugly head. I looked out my window to hide my face while I tried to calm down.

"Yeah, it's pretty nice." I gave her the best compliment I could muster and she didn't question it.

"Have you had lunch?" Lucy asked once we were back on the asphalt. She put the right blinker on, towards town. My panic levels rose a little more.

"Totally stuffed, we can just get on the road." I blurted out trying to temper the anxiety that had overtaken me at the thought of having to go back by where it had all gone down yesterday.

"Allllrighhtt, if you are sure." Her smile wavered but she pulled out to the left and I let out a sigh of relief. "You sure you aren't running from something? If you are its totally fine, just good to know so I can get my story straight." She laughed softly at her little joke and I mustered another awkward smile. I decided to just give her the truth I was comfortable with.

"Nah, I am just tired of being stuck. I needed something new and I missed you." Again the truth in my words hit me harder than I had expected.

"Ah, Kait I missed you too. I just wasn't sure that you wanted me to keep bugging you." Her smile disappeared. "I know how much me leaving hurt you. And after I visited last time I wasn't sure that is what you wanted." I crossed my arms and sunk into the seat.

"That was dad's fault. Not yours. But yeah I was mad, sis. It felt like you abandoned me for dick." She scoffed and chewed her cheek.

"I know it feels that way. I am sorry Kait. I did offer to bring you with me." She chanced a look and me and I gave her a small nod. I remembered. Everything.

"Yeah, like I said that part was dad's fault."

"Yeah." She let out a sad sigh. I reached over and turned on the radio. That was enough talking for one car ride.

We sat in silence until the world flying by outside all bled together into one blurry mess. My eyes heavy, I let them finally slide shut, resting my tired head on the window. I didn't wake up until we were pulling onto a wide, well maintianed gravel road. The change in the ride enough to rouse me.

"You're up!" Lucy's sweet voice greeted my sleepy ears.

"Where are we?" I looked out the windsheild at the breathtakingly lush scenery coming at us.

"We're almost there." Her pearly white teeth were on full display in the widest of smiles.

"And where is there exactly?" I hadn't actually ever asked where it was she had moved. I didn't do letters, and had had absolutely no intention of visiting her before.

"Timber Ridge."