A little more
2004-09-21 @ 3:12 p.m.

That night was the coldest of her life even though winter hadn't really hit yet. Knowing that right there, in that moment, she had nothing but the clothes she was wearing, and a small bag filled mostly with a few articles of clothing, and pictures of art she loved.

She called her aunt and uncle again in the morning, the told her that "of course you can come back here". So she did. It was safe. And even though she knew she wouldn't be completely removed from the events of the previous months, she'd at least have good food, a ride to school, and a roof over her head.

This time they gave her the master bedroom, as they'd moved into a different room while she was gone.

She got a part time job waiting tables, paid her keep, worked hard. She continued to date the same guy who was with her at the hospital, even when he moved to Chicago. His move only inspired her to work harder, so she could go to school in the vicinity, to be with him. That year, she graduated 4th in her class of 498 people. She was seperated from the 1st by 4 100th's of a point. That year, she was accepted to Northwestern University. That year, she finally moved away from the people who she knew would destroy her.

6 days after graduation she moved. She was able to get a small appartment in Evanston, close enough to campus that she didn't need a car, yet far enough away that she had freedom. 3 months after that the boyfriend told her he'd met someone else, that he wanted to be with the new person, but that he'd love her always.

She didn't even wait to finish the semester. She called in a favor of an old friend of her grandmother's and transfered in unprecidented time to Rutgers. She was incredibly lonely, immeresed herself late at night in the internet. And there, she met the person she thought she could trust, the first one in years.

Later the same month she moved to Maryland. He'd found her a job as a live in nanny for two Palestinian children, and promised he'd do anything for her.

She lived there for only a few months before the mother of the children and she clashed in their beliefs about relationships, and how her job should function. She was asked to leave, and given no time line. She was to be out that night.

She packed her bags once more, not knowing where she was going, or what she was going to do. So he called his mom, and she sent them money. Payoff money. They could have the money, as long as he didn't bring her back there with him. His mothe rbade it clear that she didn't want any part of her.

So they rented a UHaul, which cost all but $130 of what she'd sent. And they headed down the road for Texas....