Page 31 of The Moment Promised

His eyes widen like I’ve shocked him with my answer. “You’re insane. She’s so…scary. And mean.”

I shrug. “Look at my dad. I’m used to mean. Food poisoning, on the other hand…”

“This sucks,” Finn announces.

I raise a brow.

“You should come live with me,” he whispers, as the shouting downstairs gets even louder.

“I’m not raising my daughter to be a little fucking slut like you!”

Finn winces. I blow out a steady breath.

What does he think we’re doing up here anyway? We’re only twelve.

“I can’t live with you. I think my dad would blow a fuse.” I joke to lighten the mood, but my smile quickly fades since Finn doesn’t return one.

“It wouldn’t hurt to ask,” he says.

I picture my mom with another injury. Purple swelling around her eye, or maybe this time it will be a busted lip. “It would.”

Finns face pales as he realizes what I mean. “It can’t be that bad, right? You’ll move out when you turn eighteen, we’ll go to college together and leave this place behind.” He smiles, full of hope.

Hope is a dangerous thing; I’ve learned from the many times my dad’s mentioned divorce. Every time he does, I allow myself to dream just a little—my mom and I living on our own, never feeling such fear and pain. Just the two of us taking on the world.

Eighteen is so far away, it feels like I’ll never reach it. How will I survive this every day for the next six years of my life?

Six more school years… Six more summers.

I steal a glance from Finn, who smiles at me. The yelling in the background seems to go mute, along with the pressure from my chest.

That’s how I’ll survive.

“Want to escape?” I bounce up from the bed, a thrill of excitement shoots through me.

Finn looks like I’ve grown another head, with the way his eyes widen to saucers. “I’m not going down there!” he hisses.

“No, not through the front door,” I say, walking toward my bedroom window.

“Isn’t it too high up?” he asks, which is reasonable considering we are on the second floor.

“I do it all the time. Here, let me show you.” I slide open the window slowly, not to make too much noise.

The tree branch that was once so far away grew taller, and so did I. I easily swing down from the branch, landing on two feet. I glance up at Finn, gesturing for him to follow me.

Finn looks like he might need to change his pants, but with a little courage, he follows suit, landing right next to me. He lets out a breath of relief.

I grab his hand, running as fast as possible, dragging him away from here.

He follows me, just like I hope he always will.

9

NOW

Iwalk as if I’m on a tight rope, on the edge of the elevated sidewalk. I hold my arms out on my side to keep my balance. Finn casually hums as he walks next to me.

I stumble and his arm suddenly wraps around my waist and easily lifts me off my feet. He sets me on the other side of him, so he’s the one closest to the road.

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