Page 63 of Heart Sick

I glare at her—traitor.

My feet don’t touch the ground as he carries me from the store, but as he passes the lady who called me crazy, I show her what crazy looks like as I kick her in the stomach.

She collapses to the ground in hysterics while I roll my eyes. I barely touched her. What a drama queen.

As I’m carried outside like a naughty child, I laugh maniacally because this is the most fun I’ve had all day. Onlookers whisper behind their hands, secretly enjoying the show they’ll no doubt share with their friends over Sunday brunch.

As we’re headed for the bus, I fight with all my might. I don’t want to go back on there. I need to think on my feet.

“I need to use the restroom!” I cry, hoping this works.

“Too bad,” he gruffly replies.

“Okay then. I’ll just go now then.”

The threat of soiling his clothes works as he quickly turns direction and heads toward a diner. He doesn’t let me down and carries me through the packed restaurant. Everyone stops and stares, but I’m used to it now.

I wink at a man who smiles before his female companion slaps him across the cheek.

A waitress in a turquoise uniform directs my manhandler to where the restrooms are. She covers her mouth, horrified by what she sees. It seems I’ve caused quite the stir. When we reach the ladies’ room, he bursts through the door.

No one is in here.

He shoves me into a cubicle and makes it quite clear I’m to go supervised.

“A little privacy, please.” I fold my arms across my chest, but he makes it clear that’s not happening.

I take him in and decide to play him like most men because that’s what he is, at the end of the day, a perverted, disgusting man who thinks with the head between his legs.

I push out my bottom lip and twirl a piece of hair around my finger. “Pretty please? I can’t go with you watching. And besides, where am I going to go?”

His attention drifts to my ample chest.

“I promise to behave. Or not,” I add, giving him doe eyes.

It works like a charm.

“Fine, but I’ll be right outside the door.”

I nod with a toothy smile.

When he leaves, I shake my head, unbelieving how stupid he could be. But as I scope out my surroundings, I realize my escape route is limited to the door he guards. I won’t give up, however. There’s got to be another way.

And I see it in a small window above the toilet.

I don’t have time to talk myself out of this ludicrous idea and stand on the closed toilet lid and pull at the window. It’s stuck. But I keep yanking at it until it budges. I’ve worked up a sweat by the time it’s fully open.

Boosting myself up, I peer out and see a dumpster below. I don’t even think twice and slide out the window and into it. I’m surrounded by foul-smelling garbage, but as I look up at the window I just escaped out of, I laugh because it’s so worth it.

Jumping out of the dumpster, I look down the alleyway and decide to take off in the opposite direction of the main street. There’s no way I’m going back to Parkfields.

I may not remember who I am, but I do remember that being in that place strips all of us of our dignity. With no plan, I mute my footsteps as I run toward what I hope is freedom. When I turn the corner, I try to act composed and blend in with society.

I have no idea where I am. Nor do I have any money or ID.

There’s a bus stop down the road. So I decide to wait and hope some Good Samaritan will lend me the money for the fare.

Light trickles of rain begin to fall, and the gray clouds are fast approaching. There’s going to be a storm.

---