Run Away

She got up early that day, despite the disagreement of her body from lack of sleep for the past few weeks. She tiptoed around the bed, careful not to wake the man that slept beside her every night, also thankful for once that he was a heavy sleeper. She stopped for a moment to gaze upon him in his peaceful slumber and sighed heavily. His long, light brown hair was spread across the pillow, his soft lips that were always so warm on hers were parted slightly, and his hands were clasped together lightly almost as if in prayer. She wanted to reach out and touch him one last time, but was afraid that her heart would melt and she wouldn't have the will to go through with her plan. Finally tearing herself away from the sight of him she crept out of the bedroom, grabbing the pair of jeans, the plain white t-shirt and the pair of socks from the chair that were still there from last night on her way out and walked down the hall. Not wanting to turn on any lights she carefully felt her way down the stairs. The street lights outside were still on, the darkness not yet receding, casting an uncanny glow through the front window. She stood there silent, staring...from the inside out. Isolated. While standing there, watching the dead air call to her and the occasional car drive by, she dressed herself in the clothes that she had grabbed from the chair earlier. She turned around and walked quickly to the bathroom, glancing at the stove clock in the kitchen on her way by, 4:37am. Not bothering to brush her teeth or wash her face, she picked up the hair brush and a piece of gum that was near the sink. She then backtracked to the kitchen again, brushing her short, medium brown hair as she went. Opening the fridge door she pulled out the milk carton, letting the light spill out around her. She took a long drink straight from the carton before replacing it back into the fridge. She went back up stairs, noticing the darkness finally starting to lift away outside, but the street lights were still on. She crept down the hall and back into the bedroom, crossing to the other side where the writing desk stood with loose papers covering the top. She reached under the desk, her fingers feeling for the hook that held a key, a key that she had managed to keep hidden from him all these years. Glancing back at him to make sure he was still asleep, she finally found the key that she was looking for. She stood up straight, her body complaining again. Looking back at him one more time, she unlocked the little drawer that was on the far left corner of the desk, she reached inside and carefully pulled out the white envelope. Knowing what was in the envelope, she closed her eyes fighting back the tears and half ran out of the room, dropping the key and leaving the drawer open. She ran lightly down the stairs and into the kitchen, placing the envelope on the stove, with his name facing up, where she knew he'd find it when he woke up. She grabbed her keys from the counter near her and headed towards the bathroom for the last time, she opened the closet door that stood beside the bathroom door, she pulled out the duffel bag that she had hidden there weeks before, which contained well over $1000 that she had been saving up, a few selected pictures, and some extra clothes, that's all she planned to take with her, plus the few things she had on her. Her rings, her necklaces, all of them having different meanings, she couldn't bare to leave them behind. She threw the bag over her shoulder, feeling hot tears run down her cheeks as the reality of all this started to hit her. She closed the door and stood there for a moment, taking in deep, slow breaths, trying to steady her trembling hands. She finally walked down the hall, her back straight and stiff, her eyes staring ahead, not wandering. She walked across the kitchen, into the living room and stood facing the front door. She reached out and slowly turned the knob, opening the door half way and slipping out, letting the cool morning air hit her face and body, silently closing the door behind her. Without a second thought or a look behind her, she went slowly down the porch steps, one by one.