• My name is Katelyn, but you could call me Kate. I’m turning 18 in a week, but I won’t have anybody to celebrate it with me, I won’t be getting a cake, or presents. Neither will I have anybody chanting the birthday song to me. I’ll be alone; on my own, all because of what happened two months ago.
    I stand up and walk up to the mirror that looks blankly at me, in this dark room it is the only object that gives out a little bit of light. Even so, it makes the room seem colder than it already is. I lean in towards it and stare back at my reflection; I don’t look like the Kate I looked like, before this place swallowed my life. I don’t know how I’m still alive.
    As I watch my mirrored image, disturbing memories bubble up inside my head and I try to shove them away, but they won’t budge, and the memories of that night start playing in my mind like a film.
    *flashback starts

    “Kate, I’ve told you so many times, going further away into the city is dangerous. Why do you go there?”
    “Mom, look! I’m fine! Why are so concerned? IT’S MY LIFE!” I screamed.
    “You’re only seventeen! Do you know what kind of people are out there?” she answered gently.
    “STOP!” I shrieked “I HATE YOU, YOU MAKE EVERYTHING SO MISERABLE FOR ME!”
    I turned my back to her not caring what she said next and fled to my room upstairs. I couldn’t take anymore, everyday a stupid lecture about a stupid thing. This was it! I was going to run away for sure now. A few months ago I’d planned that ever so carefully but didn’t have the guts, but now I thought I was ready. I wanted total isolation. No one to stop me from doing what I wanted.
    I grabbed a duffle bag from my colourful closet, and started to throw in a bunch of clothes. I also packed in my laptop, all my credit cards and wallet, and a few snacks and drinks that I usually hid under my bed as my midnight snacks.
    I grabbed my GAP hoody, which was huge on me, and put it on. Before settling down at my desk, I took my iPod and then my watch and shoved them both into my pocket. Then I took out a piece of paper out of my printer and jotted down a few sentences. After I was done I looked down and revised over it:


    Dear Mom and Matt,
    I’ve decided to leave everything behind, and start my life over again, except my way! I’m tired of being bossed around you both. Yeah sure I’m younger than Matt, but only by 2 years; also I don’t understand why you both find it so hard to be nice to me. Anyway I need some freedom, and if you’re going to try and find me good luck, because I’ve got everything planned so even if you call the police it won’t work! Have a good life!
    Sincerely Kate wink
    I nodded, it was perfect!
    I reached into my pocket and took out my watch, then strapping it onto my wrist I smiled as I looked down at the time; it was 8:55 p.m. Perfect!
    I took my cell phone from my desk and shoved under my pillow, I didn’t need it.
    I walked over to my window, but before opening it I remembered something my mom had said, do you know what kind of people are out there?
    Hesitantly, I walked away from the window and opened the drawer to my desk. I shuffled to the different writing utensils, but finally found what I stuffed into my duffle bag. A pair of scissors was what I found. Two things about my scissors were that they were sharp and that they were my weapon. Now I was ready!
    First I threw my duffle bag out on to our backyard grass, and it landed with a soft thud. Then, I closed my bedroom lights and walking over to my window the last time, I placed one of my legs outside the window, and then the other one, until half of me was outside.
    I started closing my window, when suddenly my foot slipped from one of the nails sticking out of the wall, and then I lost my balance. I started a scream which was short lived as I landed on my duffle bag. I was sure my left shoulder was broken.
    And then as I lay there dazed and dumbfound, the lights to my room opened and I suddenly remembered that I was supposed to be running away. I lifted myself, but the pain held me back. I struggled up, not wanting to lose my chance, and slung the duffle bag over my right shoulder. Then, as fast as I could I ran, jumping over a few gardening tools in the way.
    After awhile of running, I was sure I had left a pretty big distance between where my house was and where I was. To my surprise I had stopped right in front of a bus stop, I guess this was working out! I looked around and saw distant lights approaching me. It was my bus ride! When it halted in front of me I hopped in and took out my change.
    I took my seat beside a lady in her early thirties. She smiled at me and I smiled back at her. Except when I glanced over at her, although she smiled, she seemed to somehow be disgusted.
    “You look quite young, where are you going with that big bag of yours, at this time all alone dear?” her voice was soft but her words were sharp, like moms.
    “Um, I, I’m not allowed to talk to strangers!” I fumbled with my words not making eye contact with her.
    The lady looked from me to my duffle bag and then just shook her head as if she were ashamed of me; I decided it would be better if I ignored her.
    After a few minutes the bus stopped at my destination, the city! I bounced out gleefully and started walking down the wet sidewalk that glistened in the dark because of the few street lights. As I walked on, not knowing where I was walking to, I started thinking about one thing that was precious to me that I had left behind, but I couldn’t had taken it with me.
    Chris! I’d had a crush on him since ninth grade, and as the years went on I seemed to bump into him everywhere I went, which delighted me. But they always say you gotta move on.