Never Leave "it" Alone

Too much pressure

Karmen and Miles got into his car. “I feel bad for not telling them before.” Karmen said. “It's fine, they can deal with it. You probably shouldn’t have told them at all. They don’t seem too helpful.” Miles said. “Miles! That’s rude.” Karmen said. “Sorry.” Miles said. “Is that my mother?” She asked. “Yeah… It looks like her.” He said. “Amelia!” Karmen yelled. “Whoa…” They both said in shock. She had disappeared into thin air. “That was really odd.” Miles said, confused. “Yeah.” Karmen said. “Well, do you want to go to my house?” Miles asked. “Yeah sure, are your parents home?” She asked. “No, they’re in Massachusetts for a break.” He said. “Oh okay.” She said.

They went to Mile's house, and just hung out. “What was that?” Karmen asked, worried. “Let me check it out.” Miles said. “Be careful please.” She said. “Okay, I will be.” He said. He went and checked out the loud noise that came from outside, but nothing was there. “I am going to have Nik and Vivaan come over.” Miles said. “Why?” Karmen asked. “Just in case something happens, don’t be worried.” He said. “Okay.” She said. He invited Nik and Vivaan, his best friends, to come over and hang out. He wanted Karmen to be protected.

Nik and Vivaan arrived. “What's going on?” Vivaan said. “Hey” Miles said. “Haven’t seen you in a while.” Nik said. “How have you guys been?” Karmen asked. “Good” “Stopped Nik from killing himself again.” Vivaan said. “Oh… That’s not excellent.” Karmen said. “His parents yelled at him.” “Got to do it for the guys, especially since Miles over here has been hanging out with you so much.” Vivaan said. “Shut up Viv” Nik said. “Sorry.” Vivaan said. “Stop arguing guys. We need to talk.” Miles said. “Me and Karmen were just chilling and there was a very loud noise outside.” He said. “Was it a gunshot…?” Nik asked. “It was about as loud as one, but I’m not for sure. When I went outside to check it out, nothing was there.” Miles said. “Suicides?” Vivaan asked, laughing. “Not funny.” Miles said. “I wonder if it came from my house, it’s only five minutes away.” Karmen said. “Let's drive by it.” Nik suggested. “Good idea Nik.” Karmen said. “I’ll start the car.” Miles said.

They drove by Karmens house, nothing weird. Karmens phone vibrated when they got back to Mile's house. “It’s my dad, I got to go.” “I can drive you.” Vivaan said. “No, I will just walk. It isn’t that far, I will be fine.” She said. “Are you sure, babe?” Miles asked. “Yeah.” She said. “Okay, be safe, please.” Miles said. “I will.” She said. “I love you babe, text me when you get home, please.” He said. “I will, I love you too.” She said. As Karmen was leaving, they gave each other a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek. While Karmen was walking home, she felt like somebody was following her. She looked behind her, nobody was there. As she turned back around, there was this man. She swore he had no face. He looked very pale. She was terrified, so she ran the rest of the way home.

“I’m home, dad, I’m truly sorry I was late.” Karmen said. “Where were you?!” Lee yelled. “I was with Miles and his friends' dad.” She said. “You cannot leave this house without my permission!” He yelled. He punched her right under her left eye. She ran upstairs crying. “Did you hear that, Amelia? Pathetic teenagers.” Lee said. “Mm.” Amelia whispered. “You agree with me, right, Amelia?” He said, raising his voice at her. “Yes, yes, I do, honey. I’m genuinely sorry.” She said. Karmen had texted Miles, “I’m home.” “He didn’t hurt you again, did he?” Miles replied. “Nope.” “I just tripped on my stairs, that’s all.” She said. “Okay.” He replied. “I love you…” She said. “Love you too.” “I have to go to basketball.” He replied. “Oh, ok.” “Good luck.” She said. “Thanks.” He replied. Miles was gone for most of the night, yet he never texted her when he got home. Karmen was in her room crying for most of the night, she tried to distract herself by listening to music or reading, but nothing worked. “Goodnight, I love you and I miss you, I hope you made it home safe, and you’re sleeping well.” She texted Miles. She spent most of the night worrying about him.

It was exactly 3:17 AM., and Lee had busted into her room screaming and yelling, just as she was about to fall asleep. “You are such a disgrace to this family!” “You weren’t even supposed to be born.” “Why are you always with guys? They could hurt you.” He yelled. Karmen was used to this, so she just sat on her bed and stared at him. He was drunk again. His buddies had just left. She wondered, “Why is he like this?” “Who made him this way?” After her dad stopped yelling, she was exhausted. She couldn’t fall asleep in the house. She made a list of things she was going to bring with her to sneak out.

She grabbed her backpack and packed everything she listed. She opened the window in her room and crawled onto her roof with the backpack on her back. When she was seven, she had tied a rope to one of the branches on the tree next to her room, so she could get away from her dad. She slid down that rope, it gave her rope burn on her hands. She walked to the park in her neighborhood. “They aren’t going to notice I’m missing.” She thought.

After walking for about two minutes, she made it to the park. It was almost dawn. She got herself set up under one of the low-hanging trees. She placed her blanket on the green grass. Then, she put the food and water in her backpack, so it wouldn’t spoil as fast. Furthermore, she set rocks on branches of the tree, so it wouldn’t be super windy. She organized her toiletries and tied the flashlight to a branch on the tree with her Chromebook charger. She set her head down on the pillow and dozed off.