Tonight is the night...

The night I leave and start a new life.

A life that won't have me fearing every minute of the day...

A life that will bring me real love...

A life that I can reall be happy with...

Dark skies bring dark clouds that will rain until I flood in my own sorrow, tears, thoughts, emotions. No one loves me. No one will care. No one will miss me.

Mom slowly killing herself of a drug addiction, her abusive boyfriend, dad committing suicide when I was 5. Family...? What family? I take care of my little brother. He's the only family I have.

We're gonna start a new life...

I sighed and took a quick glance at my alarm clock on my dresser.

1:35 a.m.

I dragged my body out of bed and ran my fingers through my curly, brown hair that sits above my shoulders.

I stood up and walked towards my closet. I opened the door being met by the very bright light that automatically comes on.

"Shit," I mumbled rubbing my eyes. I grabbed my duffle bag and threw it onto my bed. At this point tip-toeing and peacefulness is what kept my mother from waking up along with her so called "Man."

I walked to my door and opened it slowly tip-toeing into the hallway. I strutted until I seen my mother's room door cracked causing me to quickly jump back.

"Don't be awake.." I prayed over and over. She turned over and went back to snoring. Her Man? God knows where right now.

I continued my walk until I reached my brother's room. I opened his door hoping it wouldn't make a noise. My mother can be a light sleeper sometimes. All hell would break loose if she knew what I was up to at this time of night.

I glanced through the dark room with only small light bouncing off the walls from the Tv playing. I quietly leaned onto his bed and shook him slightly.

"Bubba come on," I whispered.

He didn't move.

I used my strength and sat him up. He moaned and groaned about not wanting to get up.

"Bubba come on. Remember I told you we're leaving this bad place?" He shook his head and I cleaned the boogers off his eyes. He rubbed them and began to pout.

"When we get on the bus you can go back to sleep okay?" He looked at me with his light brown eyes. Every time I stare into those eyes I find myself falling. I have to protect him at all cost. Leaving is the best way right now.

"Otay," He got up off the bed. He stood up in his little spiderman boxers and scratched his tummy. "Get your bag we packed yesterday and grab your night light," I said. He followed suit and I went in his drawer pulling out a shirt and some pants.

My brother,Maverick, is 5. He's very capable of doing things on his own since my mother never did. It was me and him taking care of each other. He shouldn't be having to learn how to do some things I do at such a young age.

He sat his bag down on the bed and I dressed him. It was probably cold outside, so I grabbed him a jacket in case. "Ok put your shoes on," I said.

He finally got his last shoe on as I tied them and grabbed his bag. I didn't notice I was still in my sports bra and boxers.

"Go to my room," I whispered. We tip-toed back through the hallway into my room. I sat him down on my bed and gave him my phone to watch cartoons.

I went into my drawer and grabbed a plain white tee, a pair of black joggers, and my Nike slides from by my bed. I have another pair of shoes in my bag. I checked on Maverick and he seemed to be occupied with watching Paw Patrol. He absolutely loves that show.

I smiled and proceeded to go into my bathroom which was attached to my room. I bent down and opened the bottom cabinet and reached all the way to the back. I struggled, but I finally felt the cylinder type object I was looking for.

"Bubba come brush your teeth real quick," I said loud enough for him to hear me, but not wake my mother. He silently jumped off my bed and practically ran over to my sink.

"Shh, you're gonna wake momma." He nodded and grabbed his toothbrush. He began to brush his teeth and mumbled the ABCs. He's an angel.

I had my mason jar in my hand and quickly unscrewed the top.

I took a quick look over at my alarm clock again.

1:48 a.m.

"Fuck!" I mentally yelled. The bus leaves at two and we are almost 3 blocks away, not to mention we have to go through security and checking and shit.

I poured out all of my money, including change, onto my bed. I counted it and had over 500 dollars. It should be enough right? For at least 3 weeks.

I did a countless amount of things for this money. It haunted me, but I had too. For me and especially Maverick.

I quickly stuffed the money into my pocket and ran to the restroom. "Bubba let's go!" I grabbed my duffle bag and threw it over my shoulder and he put his bag on his back. He spit out the rest of the toothpaste in his mouth and washed it out.

"Here," I held out my hand and took his toothbrush stuffing it in his bag and zipping it back up. "Let's go! hurry!" I left my phone on my bed. If they file a missing person report then they can track my phone.

I'd rather be safe than sorry.

We snuck out the house and as we got outside my mom's boyfriend pulled up in his Cadillac.

"Shit! Run to the back Mavey!" I pushed him as we started running towards the back yard.

"Hey!" I heard him yell. He was now chasing after us.

Our back yard wasn't fenced, so we just had to run and enter into the alley.

We kept running and I saw car lights. Okay, we're almost near the highway.

"Bring your asses back here you bastards!" He yelled. We stopped and I looked around frantically. "Sissy he's coming!" Mavey [ma•vie] yelled breathing heavily.

I looked down the alley and seen the bus pulling up. Shit, I didn't know it was closer than 3 blocks.

"Come o-" I took off running.

"AHHHH! MACEYYYY!" I heard Maverick scream.

I stopped running. I turned around and saw Maverick being pulled and mishandled by James.

It angered me. I took off and lunged at James. He dropped Maverick face first into the dirt and James punched me.

"Where you think you going bitch?" He asked kicking me in my side. I groaned in pain, Maverick got up and ran towards James kicking him in his leg.

James laughed and pushed him really hard. Maverick fell into a thorn bush that was on the side of the fence of someone's back yard. He yelped and cried.

James let go an evil laugh and pick me up by my shirt. "You ain't going nowhere!" He yelled in my face.

"Fuck you!" I hooked him in his stomach and he dropped me. I wiped the blood from my mouth. He groaned and I kicked him in his face. He flew back and moved slightly Enough for me to grab Maverick and catch this bus before it pulls off.

I got up and limped over to Maverick. I tried to pick him up but he cried even more. "Mavey come on buddy, stop crying please." He sniffed and held his cries.

"It's gonna hurt, but you gotta stay strong ok." I smiled and he nodded.

"On the count of 3 I'm gonna pull you ok?" He nodded and bit his lip.

"One.."

"Two.."

"Three.."

I pulled him up and he yelled. The thorn vines had detached from his body and he had a couple thorns in his arm.

I grabbed his other arm and we took off running. James was struggling to get up, but we had already gotten far from him. We finally arrived at the bus station.

"The bus for St. Louis, Missouri is calling for its last loading." The women over the intercom spoke. I gestured Maverick to follow me and he did. We walked up to a bus loading and gave them our bags.

Some guy scanned our tickets and looked at me and Maverick weirdly. I swallowed the lump in my throat hoping he wouldn't deny us for getting onto the bus.

"Are you guys running away?" He hit the damn nail on the head. I can't tell him that cause in Texas it's illegal to run away under the age of 18. I'm 17 and don't turn 18 for another 2 months.

If they found out me and Mavey will be sent back home and that will be hell.

"No!" I said quickly. Shit! Macey think of something!

"We're going to stay with family," I said. He looked at me again and gave me our tickets. He closed the gate to where all the luggage is and we quickly got onto the bus.

We found seats in the back and we sat down.

"Ladies and Gentlemen thank you for choosing Greyhound lines. We are headed to St. Louis, Missouri which will take about a day. Don't worry there is a bathroom on the bus and we also take stops near stores and hotels. Please enjoy your ride and let us know if you need anything. Again thank you for choosing Greyhound lines."

Mavey nudged me and pointed at his arm. There were still 4 little thorns in his arm.

"Stay still ok?" He nodded and I pulled them out. He didn't cry, but he winced a few times.

He laid his head on my side and I wrapped my arms around him.

He fell into a light slumber. He soon started shivering. I admit it was cold, so I took off my jacket and covered me and him.

He stopped shivering and finally relaxed his body on mine. I looked at him as he slept.

There's a new life for us waiting in St. Louis. We have nothing here and I be damned to leave my little brother to live in what I once called home.

Me and him deserved much more. I went through hell, and so did he. I am his protector, his rock, his guardian. I can't let anything happen to him.

As he slept I thought about the things I went through. Of course, Mavey doesn't know, and he shouldn't know that his big sister had to go through things.

I left behind my past just 20 minutes ago. The bus was silent and the lights were off as you heard cars passing by and the bus's engine revving every other couple minutes.

I wiped the dirt off of Mavey's forehead and kissed it. I took one last glance at him as I played in his curly brown hair.  

I'm finally leaving and you're going with me, so let me introduce myself.

My name is Macey Bowen... And I'm a Runaway

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Excuse any mistakes😊

This is my new book y'all!

How do y'all like the introduction?

Thoughts on Maverick?

Thoughts on Macey?

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