All the food is ripped out of the fridge. There is ketchup and applesauce smeared across the walls and into the carpet. All our dishes, which thankfully are plastic, litter the floor. All the clothes I washed, folded, and put away last night are thrown about the house. Some even have some unknown substance on them.Thoseclothes are all mine.
Great.
I lay my head in my hands. Take a deep breath and stand. I’ll take this over a beating or burn any day though. I guess you could call me lucky.
“Oh, and we need more food. After you're done cleaning, go to the store.”
She begins to walk down the hall but then tacks on, “Oh, and use your own fucking money from your fancy little job because I’m done giving you all of mine.”
After I clean, I make a run to the store. Now that I know how to drive, it’s a lot easier. I debated not taking the car, but it’s a particularly rainy day, and now that I know how to drive, thanks to Ev, I decided it was worth the risk. I peeked in on Mom, and she was passed out in her bed. I don’t think she will be waking anytime soon.
After I restock literally all our food, which took a whole $150 out of my own money, it’s four p.m. I don’t know if Ski was expecting me to come in for work, but I decided not to. I don’t want to get him in trouble, but I can’t leave him to worry.
I sneak into my mom’s room, grab her phone off the charger, and sneak back out. I dial the shop's number.
“Mill’s Coffee. How can I help you?” The roughness of his voice soothes me.
“Hey, old man. It’s me.” I’m whispering even though I know Mom isn’t going to wake up for at least another five hours.
“Leora, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I’m going to stay away from the shop for a couple of days. I don’t want to get you in any kind of trouble. I just wanted to let you know I was okay.”
“Don’t worry about me, sweetie. I can handle your mother and any threats she makes toward me.”
“I won’t risk it. I won't bring you into my mess. I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to you or the shop because of me. Hey, if you see Ev, can you tell him I’m okay? I couldn’t make it to school today, and I’m worried he will think something bad happened to me.”
“About that. He has been here multiple times today, checking to see if you were here. Gage is here also, trying to find you with his tech stuff.”
My heart warms in my chest, to know that if I went missing, someone would be looking.
“How did I get so lucky to have three amazing guys looking out for me?”
“Well, not to brag or anything, but I knew you first. But yes, I’ll let ’em know.”
“Thanks. I’ll see you in a couple days.”
“Take care of yourself, sweetie. If you need me, you know where to find me.”
I hang up, delete the call history, and plug her phone back in just as I found it.
No matter how much Gage searches, he won't find me here. Even if he knew Mom’s full name, the trailer isn’t in her name. It’s in one of her regulars who pays the rent each month for us to live here.
I don’t have a cell phone for him to trace, or even a computer for that matter. The only phone is Mom’s, and again, not in her name.
When Mom wakes around nine p.m., I am at the dining table working on some homework.
“Did you get the food?”
“Yes.”
“Remember what I said about running, Leora. I will take that man down—and your little boyfriend. Don’t underestimate me.”
“Of course, Mom.” I keep my head down. She used my name. She is not in the state for me to look her in her eyes.
She gets ready and leaves for work. Not another word between us.
January 22nd could not come soon enough. I’ll be eighteen. I’ll be free.
