Living With the Choices We Make (Domestic Violence / Abuse) ✔️

20 - Attempt To Break Free

After that, I waited. It was almost noon when Laura showed up and she looked totally stressed.

"Chantal Forrester showed up this morning," I overheard her whispering to Kade. "I can't get a hold of your mother but I think there might be trouble."

Kade frowned. "I'll let her know. She is out of town for a conference but will be back later tonight. I'll give Noel the heads up in case you need his help."

This sounded somewhat cryptic to me but apparently was something common for them. Laura turned to me next with an encouraging smile. "I'm really glad you changed your mind. Let's go."

I followed her outside to a small mini bus and we drove only for a few miles until we got to a three story brick building somewhere on Circular Road.

"This is our Family Rescue Center," Laura explained. "We have a total of thirty six beds, luckily not all occupied at the moment. It's not our busiest time of the year, that's usually after the holidays. Mothers practically flock here in January after giving it one last shot over Christmas."

The shelter was actually quite comfortable, not what I had expected at all. I had pictured it like a big homeless shelter with huge common spaces but this place had smaller bedrooms and each floor had a living and dining room adjacent to a kitchen.  There were also a large recreational and study area downstairs. Out back was a fenced in garden with modern play equipment and what looked like a nature explorer classroom.

"You will share your room with Patrice, she is sixteen like you." Laura pushed open the door to a small room which wasn't even a quarter of what I had at Brent's but held two beds, a desk and a small dresser. A pretty girl was stretched out comfortably on one of the mattresses, headphones stuck into her ears with her eyes closed, humming quietly to the music. Laura gently nudged her shoulder and her eyes opened lazily, blinking at the interruption with disapproval. Laura signalled her to remove the earplugs.

"Patrice, this is Rena. She will be your roommate."

The girl shrugged after giving me a suspicious glance and returned to her music.

"You have to excuse her," Laura muttered. "She isn't very sociable. Difficult family situation."

The girl didn't appear to have had a tough life. Her clothes were all designer, expensive converse parked in front of her bed and her fingernails had been carefully shaped, no doubt by a professional. Her dark shiny hair was straightened and cut in a modern style – overall, she looked like she just stepped out of a fashion magazine.

"Unpack and try to relax," Laura suggested. "We will go over the safety plan and the rules this afternoon."

"The safety plan?" I asked puzzled.

Laura gave me a patient smile. "I will explain later." 'Behave' she mouthed to Patrice but the girl was back in her own little world.

I started to fill an empty drawer with my belongings and even noticed a small walk-in closet which was already filled with a bunch of Patrice's stuff but had a few free hangers for my school uniform.

I was just about going to find the bathroom when I noticed that Patrice was watching me with cautious eyes. I tried to be polite and gave her my most approachable smile.

"What's your name again?" she asked. Her voice was soft, almost timid.

"Rena."

"Your mom's here too?" I realized she was making her best effort at a friendly icebreaker exercise.

"No. My mother died when I was little." I wasn't sure how much I really wanted to share with her.

"Did your dad hurt you?" There were tears in her eyes and she almost choked on her question.