Chapter 3 - The Flight into the Dark
I knew I couldn't wait until morning. If I waited, Austin would return, and my mother would let him through the front door. I couldn't risk Graham being in the same room as that man for even one more second.
I grabbed two large duffel bags from the closet. I packed as quickly as I could, focusing only on the essentials. For Graham, I packed his favorite soft clothes, his weighted blanket, his noise-canceling headphones, and his medication. For myself, I packed a few changes of clothes, my laptop, and all of my important documents—my birth certificate, social security card, and high school diploma, which I kept in a fireproof folder in my closet. I also grabbed Graham’s documents. I didn't know if I was breaking the law by taking him, but I knew I was saving his life.
"Pack your dinosaur, Graham," I whispered, trying to keep my voice calm so he wouldn't panic. "We're going on an adventure."
"An adventure?" he asked, his voice trembling. "In the dark?"
"Yes. Like astronauts. We have to be very quiet."
He nodded solemnly, stuffing his toy into his small backpack.
I checked my bank account on my phone. I had saved $2,400 from my part-time job and my gap-year savings. It wasn't a fortune, but it was enough to get us away.
As we crept down the hallway, I could hear my mother in the kitchen, talking on the phone in a low, pleading voice. She was talking to Austin, apologizing to him, promising him that she would handle me. It made my stomach turn.
We slipped out the back door into the cool, damp Ohio night. The air was crisp, and the streetlights cast long, eerie shadows across the pavement. I held Graham's hand tightly as we walked quickly down the street, away from the only home he had ever known.
My destination was a small, twenty-four-hour diner about a mile away. It was a place where I knew the night-shift waitress, a kind older woman named Martha who always gave Graham extra biscuits. I needed a warm place to sit, internet access, and a moment to think.
The walk was exhausting. Graham got tired halfway through, and I had to carry him along with the heavy duffel bags. My shoulders burned, and my breath came in ragged gasps, but the adrenaline pumping through my veins kept me moving.
When we finally pushed open the heavy glass door of the diner, the smell of grease and coffee washed over us. Martha looked up from the counter, her eyes widening when she saw our disheveled appearance and the bags.
"Nellie, honey? What on earth are you doing out this late with the little one?" she asked, rushing over to us.
"We need a place to sit for a bit, Martha," I said, my voice cracking. "Please."
She guided us to a booth in the back, far away from the window. Within minutes, she brought over a hot chocolate for Graham and a black coffee for me.
"What happened, sweetheart?" Martha asked, looking at the faint red mark still visible on Graham's cheek.
"My mom's boyfriend hit him," I whispered, the tears finally spilling over. "And my mom... she took his side. She wanted me to apologize. I couldn't stay there."
Martha's face hardened with a mixture of anger and deep sorrow. She reached across the table and squeezed my hand. "You did the right thing, Nellie. You're a good sister. But you can't stay on the streets. Do you have anywhere to go?"
"I don't know," I admitted, looking down at my coffee. "I have some money. I thought maybe I could find a cheap motel for the night, and then... I don't know."
"A motel isn't safe or cheap for long," Martha said thoughtfully. "Listen to me. I have a sister, Clara. She owns a small boarding house on the edge of the city, near the university. It’s mostly students and quiet folks. She has a vacant room in the basement. It’s small, but it’s clean, safe, and she won't charge you an arm and a leg. Let me call her."
May you like
I felt a spark of hope in the darkness. "Thank you, Martha. Thank you so much."
While Martha went to make the call, I looked at Graham. He was happily sipping his hot chocolate, drawing patterns in the condensation on the table. He was safe. For tonight, he was safe. But I knew the real battle was just beginning.
