Escape

  “Mamma?’ I yelled into the dark. “Coming.” The immediate response gave me instant relief. I was currently lying on the cold bathroom floor of my childhood home. Having just threw up last night’s dinner. Everything hurt on my body. From the top of my head, all the way down to my baby toe. Being a typical seventeen year old girl, needing my mother was somewhat embarrassing. Lying on the bathroom floor was not much better. I pull my raven colored hair back into a pony at the base of my neck, pulled myself up to the sink to brush the putrid taste from my mouth.   “What has you so Malata?” my mother questioned lovingly. My great grandfather, Lorenzo, immigrated from Italy when he was eighteen years old. Landing in New York city and never leaving. Be

An hour later I was locking up the store but I was not on the outside like I should have been. However, I was on the inside. I was also on a mission. Needing an answer to a question that had been plaguing me for the past week.  I pulled the small white test out of the packaging after locking myself into the staff bathroom. I always wondered why there was a staff bathroom. There were three people on staff. My father, me and a young boy who comes in on the weekend to restock.“Okay Cara, you have stalled enough.” I told myself.I pulled the stick out of the packaging and read the instructions. After sitting down and doing my business I put the stick aside, set my alarm and just sat there thinking.  I wasn’t as worried about what my parents would think. They loved me unconditionally, of that I was certain. No, it wasn’t even Luka, well not really. I knew we were both young. I wouldn’t be 18 for another three months.What I was really scared of and had always

I am woken by a stream of light warming my face. Batting my sore eyes open, I stare up at the ceiling above me. A skylight is directly above the bed and I can see trees overhead and the sky. It is the only glimpse of the outside world I am allowed. For looking around me, I notice that there are no windows in the shack.  I lay looking out the window for sometime, trying to figure out what to do, then slowly sit up and swing my legs over the side of the bed. In doing so, I feel an incredible wave of nausea wash over me. I quickly jump off the bed and race toward the bathroom, just barely making it to the toilet in time. Once through, I lean back against the wall across from the toilet and hand my head. “At least you are okay.” I say as I place my hand over my stomach. It is as flat as it normally is, but I know with time it will grow. The only ease I feel is knowing I am not truly alone. “I will get us out of this sweet bean, somehow, I will.” With a new sense of hope, I hea

I woke with a sharp pain in my stomach this morning. I knew it was time. My baby was coming into this world. I had asked for books on child birth months back and for once the monster had delivered. I have read everything he brought me dozens of times. However, nothing could have prepared me for the actual event. The cramps intensified  and I struggled to the bathroom. After I relieved myself and started to make my way back to the bed I heard a pop and instantly felt liquid running down my leg. I filled the bath with warm water and grabbed the only two towels I had. One to bite down onto, and one to wrap the baby in. I began pushing once my contractions started happening every minute. All books had told me not to start pushing till my contractions were two minutes apart. You do not want to wear yourself out too early and then have no energy for the big event. I have never felt any pain like that in my life. I felt like I was being split open. I only had to pu

“I do not believe you.” Whoever was on the other side of that door couldn’t be here to help me. I wouldn’t let myself believe that this nightmare could be coming to an end after almost 8 months of isolation and self preservation. “Cara, I promise I have no intention of hurting you.” The mans’ voice sounded deep and soothing. It also could be that I have not heard another voice in so long. "How did you find me? Did he send you?” My voice was accusing and questioning as I looked down at Carlos' body. I could not trust anyone. "Because he is gone." “What do you mean gone?” the voice asked. "I followed him here." Well, the truth would come out, I mean what was he going to do, put me in prison? Prison was more freedom than I was allowed now. "Carlos is gone, because I killed him." A smile slowly creeped across my face and then I started to laugh. I laughed so hard I couldn’t catch my breath. Scarlett started to cry from my celebration. "Shhhh, it's okay baby girl, we are f