Sacrifice

Joana's POV 4

Running is something that I have not done in a long while, but I had to do it only if I wanted to save my mom and myself. That man back in the hospital looked like someone who was ready to burn me down if I stayed there for one more minute.

Looking back, I have said that I pitted him because hitting a man so hard in his crotch was enough to send him to hell. Well, I had to do what I did if I needed to leave that hospital in one piece. I was lucky enough to have escaped him today, and I was certainly sure that I would never be meeting him again in my entire life. We were not in the same class.

I sat in my room thinking of what to do concerning my father. ‘Should I just call the police?’, that was so stupid of me to think about that. It’s not like they can stop him. I have tried it before and they did nothing. I just knew that I was on my own and I had to act on my own. I could not involve Claire in this shitty life that I have anymore.

Ring Ring Ring

“It took you forever to call me” his annoyance was so evident in his voice.

“I am sorry”. I could not bring myself to annoy him, not when he had my mother. Only God knows what this man is capable of doing when he is angry.

“You can never change,” he laughed, “and that is what I like about you.”

“What do you want?” I went straight to the point. I didn't want any man reminding me of what I had tried my whole best to leave behind and definitely not him.

“Whoa…...straight to the point I guess”

The silence that met my ears after that sentence was enough to tell me that whatever that man was thinking about, it was definitely going to be my end. But I was ready, I believe I was ready.

“I need you to pack your bags and wait for me under the bridge by 4 am. I am going to come and pick you up tomorrow and make sure that you look your best.”

Ding! He cut the call immediately after speaking, not even allowing me to have an opinion or say in the matter. Not like I have ever had one my whole life. I grew up with people around me making decisions for me and all I had to do was follow their choices, whether good or bad. I was never allowed to make my own decisions and I don’t think I will ever.

I lay flat on the bed staring at the ceiling with nothing but my messed-up life right in front of me. I have always been in a s**t hole all my life. Being born into the Maslow family was not enough, but having to grow up without having to make my own choice was enough to tell me that I was doomed, but what could I do? It’s either I find a way to survive or die.

Surviving was definitely out of my list, so I was left with only death, which I was happily waiting for to come and take me. I have no idea what is awaiting me tomorrow, but I think that I am ready for anything. I have seen everything in my life that was enough to make me die, but I didn’t, so I believe what was awaiting me tomorrow could not be any worse, or it could be more.

……

“Joana…. Joana”

Someone was shrugging my shoulders so badly, trying to wake me up and that was when I realized that I had slept off while thinking. I believe that I looked like I was beaten up because I had cried myself to sleep.

“What is happening? "Joana, talk to me” Claire said to me, her voice croaking because she was about to cry. I could not bring myself to look at her because if I did, I would break down with her. She was crying, and I hated it too, but keeping everything away from her was for her own good.

“Why are you not talking to me? Joana, you are not fine, and you know it, so why are you not speaking to me?”

“It’s for the best”

She scoffed at me and looked at me with nothing but disbelief in her eyes. Tears rolled down her eyes and she just sat there looking at me. I hated myself for making her cry, but I just could not tell her anything. I had to do everything that I could to make her remain hidden to the truth.

“I will be leaving tomorrow” I said as I got up and made my way to get my bags so I could start packing. I knew that if I looked at her one more time, I was going to spill the beans and put her life and mine in danger. I already had my own mother's life to save. I could not afford to put another in the line.

“Hahaha….” Her laughter roared round the room. “Who am I to you, Joana? So you hold me in such low regard that you think you can just wake up one morning and decide to leave like that without any proper explanation. I share all of my problems with you but…. You can’t even share yours with me.”

I prefer to remain silent rather than speak to her. She should think whatever she wants to think, it’s for her own good. I proceeded to continue packing my clothes, refusing to pay any slight attention to her.

“Joana!!!” that shout alone was enough to put all my actions on hold. I turned to her and I could see that she was getting angry. ‘It’s for the best’, I said to myself once again, trying to give myself reassurance.

“I am speaking to you, and you would regard me with some respect as I do that” her eyes were bloodshot red, and she looked like someone who was ready to beat the living daylight out of me. Standing before me was the person that I held dearly to my heart, the Claire that I knew. She was ready to get the truth out of my mouth, but I wasn’t going to allow her to do so.

“I don’t know how else you want me to say it, but once again…it’s none of your business!!!” I said before finally storming out of the room with an almost empty bag. It took me a lot to say those words to her. I don’t think I would be able to get her reaction off my head. I had hurt her and this time around it was intentionally.

Tonight was the worst.