It’s been years since I’ve attempted this and I have obviously grown a few inches in that time but I need to get the fuck out of here and see him. People have done much more for their true loves, right?
I cover myself in all black and pull my hoodie up over my head. I leave a note on my bed telling Dad that I had to go see Neil and not to worry. He’s going to worry regardless but I need to do this. Thankfully, Saxon is in the shower when I enter his room and I tip-toe past the washroom door, then slowly open his window. I can’t close it once I’m out so I know my escape route will be found out after this. I look out the window and giggle when the drop is much less than what I remembered. This is going to be easy as pie.
After I’ve hopped to the roof, I look back up at the window and let out my breath when it’s empty. It would suck to be caught at this point. I shimmy myself over the edge and wrap my legs around the column, sliding down to the ground. It’s amazing how much easier it is to do this now. I run quickly across the backyard and squeeze myself between the shed and the fence, squealing when I run into thick cobwebs. I fucking hate spiders.
Once I slip through the gap in the fence, I do a victory dance that I made it and in one filthy piece. I look down at the black clothing and cringe when I see the dirt from the shed. But it doesn’t matter because I’m free. This might’ve been the most difficult part of the breakout, but the next part will be the most annoying, and I’ve always hated the cold. I pull my hoodie tighter and begin the journey I used to take almost daily a few years ago. Maybe along the way I can feel close to Charlotte again.
Whitsborough really is filled with beautifully built homes and trees so tall they must be a couple hundred years old. Even though they are bare of leaves because of winter, they still look majestic. Our streets are clean and lined with manicured lawns every summer, god forbid there’s one yellow weed anywhere, and then the winters have perfectly plowed sidewalks, free of ice at all times. We’re babied here.
It takes about thirty minutes to get to Neil’s house from mine and the walk is slowly tiring me out, maybe due to my condition or lack of exercise lately. I’m dragging my feet and taking way longer than I should, but whatever, I’ll enjoy my freedom while I have it.
I know the exact point where the scenery of Whitsborough begins to change. About halfway, the houses gradually become smaller, the lot sizes narrower, and the trees shorter. This doesn’t mean it’s no longer beautiful by no means, simply different and still well manicured. People in this neighbourhood also take pride in their properties and maintain it well.
An intersection approaches and I remember it like yesterday, to my right brings me to Molly’s house and straight ahead brings me to Charlotte’s. I look down Molly’s street and try to bring back that time when we were best friends, when life was so much easier. Unfortunately, it’s foggy and too many horrible memories have replaced them.
I continue forward towards Charlotte’s house and keep the sight of her roof in my eyesight until I am practically upon it. I do a quick scan of the street and grin when I don’t see a cop car idling nearby. Things must be letting up and soon I can breathe once again.
The driveway is still the same with a few cracks in the asphalt and the one pothole off to the left. It’s almost like I’m transported back in time and I’m here to see my best friend, ready to cause some havoc. My chest squeezes and I take a deep breath to try and hold off the tears, they’ve been running easily lately. I just miss her.
I get to the front door and ring the doorbell, the wait making my stomach heavy with apprehension. Will he turn me away?
The door opens and I see Shay’s smiling face.
“Ivy!” She exclaims, “I thought I would never see you on our doorstep again.”
Her words send a crushing blow of guilt to my chest and I can’t stop the tears this time.
“I’m so sorry,” I choke out, “I’m so sorry for what I’ve done.”
“Oh no,” she steps out to where I am and pulls me into her arms. “Ivy, we never blamed you. You must know that it was an accident. It didn’t change how much our family loves you.”
Her words send me into incoherent sobs and she stands there enduring the cold, to comfort me. Her scent throws me back to three years ago when all I knew were the Jones’ house and her cooking. Their laughter and the nights we would all play boardgames. I didn’t know how much I missed them until this very moment and I feel ashamed that I never came by.
“Come inside.” She guides me inside the house. “I’ll make cocoa.”
My sobs slowly stop and the tears start to become less as we head to the kitchen. Everyone looks safe here and Adam is nowhere to be found. The stress I’ve been feeling these last few days is disappearing and I settle into the kitchen.
“Ivy?” I hear Neil’s voice and
