Page 25 of Run with Me

A prickly feeling filled my throat. If I ran, I wouldn’t be able to visit Mikey. But if I stayed, I would be risking our new baby’slife.

“They’ll know it was me. If you stay, they’ll kill you. Come with me, John. Run with me. I needyou.”

We needyou.

“You have no chance if we both leave. They’ll know. If I stay, I can convince them that you went mad and talked about walking out to the desert or something. I know they won’t believe it, but it might buy you just enough time to escape,” John repeated.

“If I go, I’m not coming back, John.”

I wouldn’t risk Ben taking away another one of my babies. I stood up and walked toward the front door. When I opened it, the chaos in town was getting louder. The sun began to filter more and more through the low clouds. I looked at the remaining dirt underneath my nails. Thank goodness John hadn’t noticed. Out of the window, by his house past the field, I saw Mr. Garcia loading the last contents of scrap into his truck.

“I’ll ride out with Mr. Garcia. It’s my only way out. By the time they realize that I’m gone, we’ll be miles out oftown.”

“Anna, his truck is full of scrap. You can’t expect him to hide you in the frontseat.”

I remembered the money I’d stolen from Ben. There would be none to transfer tonight.

“I think he can find a spot for me. I have to take a chance.” I took John’s hand and pulled it. I needed him to help me get to Mr. Garcia’s house without being noticed. Most of all, I needed to spend every last second I had withhim.

“I’ll pray for you,” he said, as we ran through the back fields. “I’ll pray for answers and guidance. I’ll pray for your safety.”

“Hope for tomorrow,” Isaid.

“Hope for tomorrow,” he repeated.

I had no more tears. All I had was emptiness in my chest. That, and a new life growing inside of me; a life that I promised to hide from themall.

“You bury our baby, please. Bury him, because I can’t. I don’t think I could ever look at that tiny grave.” Holding on to Mr. Monkey, I let out another tearless cry. It sounded almost like a desperate shriek as I held on to that last ounce ofhope.

“Mikey will have the most beautiful grave, I promise.”

My heart broke not only for our son but also for John, whom I was about to hurt as well. He didn’t even know it. He had no idea about the secret I kept inside me. I had no other choice, though.

“Tell them I talked about killing myself. I need them to believe I’mgone.”

“Anna, stop!” He pulled on my hand as I headed for Mr. Garcia. The old man was about to get into his truck. “Please promise me that you’ll be all right. I begyou.”

“I won’t hurt myself. I promise.”

“Send me a postcard when you can. I need to find you when they leave. I’ll make sure they leave Pace. I promise. And then you can come back tome.”

I nodded.

“Where will you go?” he asked.

All I could do was shake my head, because even I didn’t know. All I wanted was to leavePace.

He grasped me by my shoulders and brought his lips to mine. The kiss was hard, a mix of a broken heart and waning hope. The kind of sadness his lips transferred to mine was one that could kill you quicker than a heartache. The kiss was torturous, balancing on the border between sorrow and despair.

“I love you, John.” I breathed heavily, pulling away with reluctance, afraid to look him in the eyes. I finally turned around and ran toward Mr. Garcia, waving himdown.

“I need help, Mr. Garcia, but you’ll be risking your life if you agree.”

“I don’t have much life left to risk, Anna. What is it? I heard there was afire.”

“I’m responsible for it. I need a ride out oftown.”

He looked over to the seat beside him and shook his head. My gaze found the ground and just as the thought of giving up teased, I heard his car dooropen.

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