“Come on, Lily, pleeeeease?”
Erin gives me the puppy eyes, and she knows I can’t resist her when she does that.
“I don’t know, Erin.I don’t want to draw attention.”
“Oh, come on, no one knows you over here.It’s our last night together and there is this really cool club I wanted to test.”
I have been staying with Erin in Albany for almost a week now, and tonight is our last night together before I take the bus to Montreal in the morning.
Erin and I met in vet school.We’ve been best friends ever since, and were roommates for years.She’s outgoing, hilarious, and was the life of every party when we were students, while I was her shy sidekick.Despite the difference in our personalities, we had the best times, and she made my life brighter back then with her sunny disposition and kind heart.
Incidentally, we are of the same height and stature, and with a blonde wig and violet-colored contacts, I can pass as her.At least, that’s what I’m hoping.
I feel nauseated when I think about crossing the border tomorrow with her ID.The idea sounded less crazy when I hatched it the night when I packed my bag and ran, but now I am not so sure anymore.
Things have been going pretty well, all things considered.I hope they’ve lost my trail by now, especially after I switched trains down south, then doubled back up north.I only need to stay ahead, keep my movements unpredictable.
The hardest part was getting unnoticed over the wall of Father’s house.I remember gripping the ivy, the rough stone biting into my palms as I pulled myself up.The climb was slow, and every movement felt like an eternity.My heart was pounding in my chest, but I couldn’t stop.I had to make it over.I had to escape.When I finally reached the top, I hesitated for a second, peering over the edge into the darkened street below.The drop was steep, but I couldn’t afford to think about it.I threw myself over the edge, landing on the concrete with a painful thud, and for a moment I stood there, waiting to see if anyone noticed or caught me to bring me back.
The weight of what I’d just done had settled over me.There was no going back.I didn’t look at the mansion.Instead, I quickly moved toward the shadows, the adrenaline coursing through my veins as I made my way to the nearest road.Every step had felt like it was pulling me further away from everything I knew.
The second hardest part had been convincing a perfect stranger to switch clothes.But, in the end, I’d managed it.The girl I’d asked took pity on my story about my persistent but harmless ex that I had to escape from to meet the love of my life.It probably hadn’t hurt that I’d slipped her a hundred-dollar bill, tipping the scales in my favor.I only hope she listened and dumped the clothes like I told her to after she got home.I don’t want her to get in trouble because of me.
After the switch, I threw on the blonde wig and called Erin from the burner phone.I told her everything, about the escape, the crazy circumstances, the fact that I’m now hiding out like a fugitive.Naturally, she thinks it’s all very romantic and wants to help me with my “runaway rom-com,” as she calls it.Typical Erin, always turning the darkest moments into some weird fairy tale.But I am not a heroine of some fairy tale running away for love.I am a fugitive on the run for survival.
So here I am, at her apartment, trying to find a reason why we shouldn’t go out to party tonight.
“This will be so much fun and we haven’t partied together for ages!And you need to unwind.It’s one night out.Pleaaase?”
Gahhh, those puppy eyes!
My resolve falters.The excitement in her voice is contagious, and for a brief moment, I allow myself to feel something that isn’t fear or dread.
“All right, all right,” I say, trying to sound more relaxed than I am.“We won’t be staying too long, though.Just a little time to catch my breath.I really do need to get up early tomorrow.”
“Yay!”Erin exclaims, practically bouncing on her bed.“I’ve been dying for some time together, and now we’re gonna have a whole night of fun.No distractions.You and me alone, like old times.”
I chuckle despite myself.“Old times, huh?You make it sound like we’re in college again.”
“Well, those were the best days, weren’t they?”she teases back, her voice light and carefree.“No drama, no danger, just fun.So, let’s make the most of it!”
I take another deep breath, allowing myself to relax a little more.Maybe she’s right.I don’t need to keep carrying the weight of everything on my shoulders all the time.For tonight, at least, I can leave it behind.
“All right, fine,” I say, unable to stop the small laugh that escapes me.“Let’s go have some fun.But I’m serious.We won’t stay out too late.I’ve got plans tomorrow.”
“I swear, Lily,” Erin says, her voice playful and full of excitement.“This is gonna be a blast.”
* * * *
A few hours later we are walking into the club and get drinks at the bar.
Erin lent me a red spaghetti strap dress.It is a bit short for my taste, ending mid-thigh, but it really makes my legs look good.Since I don’t have any shoes to go with it, I put on a pair of her high-heeled, black leather ankle boots that I had to fill with cotton pads because they are one size bigger than my feet.And of course I have my blonde wig on.
We clink glasses and down our shots, giggling and reminiscing about college.Soon we have a second and a third glass before we hit the dance floor.The music is great and the place is packed.The beat pulses through me and the alcohol has me slightly lightheaded.I have not felt so alive and free since I graduated.I smile and close my eyes and let myself flow with the music and the writhing bodies around us.
When I open my eyes, a man is dancing close to Erin with his back to me.He is so tall and broad that his body is hiding her from me, so I lean in to search her face for any trace of uneasiness, but she is laughing at something he said and I relax.Soon they are dancing closer and she has her hands up his torso and around his neck.
Good that I asked her for her spare key before we went out.You know, just in case.
