Boundaries

Chapter 7 Running Away

Giselle continued to run away from Julia before she saw a playground on her way. She paused a bit to think of her hiding spot before Julia can be heard calling for Giselle.

"Giselle! Get back here! We are going back home immediately!" Julia yelled.

"Crap, I have to act fast," Giselle quickly think of an idea before she turns to see a bush at the playground. She ran to the bush and hid there from Julia.

At the same time, Julia came to the playground and searched for Giselle before walking away. Hearing the footsteps walking further, Giselle peeked her head out before she continues to hide inside the bush.

"Phew, thank goodness she didn't search here, it would have gone somewhere else," Giselle released her nervousness before she continues to hide.

Although there is a lot of bugs at that area, Giselle still continues to stay there while she tries to complete her homework. She saw a swing and decided to do her homework there when the coast is clear. The hide is the whole afternoon before realizing she's hungry because dinner is almost around the corner.

Still don't want to go back, Giselle took out the leftover lunch inside her bag and start eating it. "I am hungry, but I don't want to let someone like her to catch me," Giselle continues to finish her leftover lunch while about her proudest achievement.

"I can hide from the whole day, but I do need to tell dad. But, he will bring me back home though..." Just as Giselle was about to put her container and take her phone, there is suddenly a call and she sees a call from Robert. Despite being confused, Giselle still picked up the phone.

"Hey dad," Giselle started soft because Robert probably doesn't know she's not home. "What would you want?"

"Where are you now, Giselle?" Robert dropped his question.

"I am...at...somewhere..."

"I am searching for you around the neighbourhood. It's getting late now so you must come back," Robert explained his concern.

"Dad, I am hiding at the playground's bush near the school," Giselle can only tell Robert her location. "I am hiding from Julia because she came to pick me up from school but I ran away,"

Robert already felt something when Giselle mentioned she is running away from Julia, but still continued the conversation either way. "Alright, text me the location and I will go pick you up,"

"Alright..." Giselle can only defeatedly hang up the phone and type out her current location. "Though I could hide from her the whole day, but I guess dad got worried and wanted to find me,"

5 minutes later, Robert drove to the playground to pick Giselle up. She got up from the bushes and swept off the leaves that were on her skirt. Giselle took her bag and went in to the car.

"You worried us so much, especially...her," Robert's tone dropped for a while.

"Yea, I knew that. If it wasn't the fact that she could do anything to me in that car, I would have followed her home," Giselle whispered. "She could just verbally attack me and even push me to do what I don't want,"

"She's your mother yes, but what she did is wrong after all. I can't really do much either because she is in control of everything,"

After acknowledging the truth, Giselle asked: "Would you actually mind if I decided to move out one day after hitting 18?"

Robert thought of it for a second before he replies: "I will support you no matter what, but I doubt she will,"

When they reached home, Giselle already saw Julia standing in front of the door. "Giselle Abigail, do you know how much you have make me embarrassed in front of those people just now?"

"And so?" Giselle felt a little rebellious and talked back.

"You-" Julia held back her anger. "Why are you so hard? Hard until you can't process and think about what is right and wrong,"

"What I did is right. I have HEARD enough of what you tell me over and over again in that car. You should be grateful that I didn't pick a fight or puke out of disgust in that car!" Giselle shared her honest thoughts.

"Well, I don't think that's a good idea-"

"Dad, don't shield for her. When did she ever do something good for us? To this family? Not a single cent honestly," Giselle tried to tell her dad the truth.

Julia realized that adding unnecessary blame and embarrassment is not going to work, she started raising her voice. "Fine! If you are not going to take my words into consideration, then..."

"What is she planning to do?" Giselle thought to herself.

Giselle I'll get rid of these," Julia took out Giselle's bow and arrows.

"Why are you holding them? How did you get your hands on them?" Giselle was shocked.

"Oh, so you know how that afternoon triggered me and gave me the inspiration to see, what kind of daughter I am going to get if I get rid of the equipments she loves," Julia said to herself.

"STOP!"

"Shut up you peasant. If you triggered me, it is time to taste your own medicine," Julia kept her words.