The life of Jane

The Escape

A three ring binder was tossed to the side, an unfinished study guide packet for science slid out of the unorganized folder and onto the already messy floor

Books, a calculator, and cheap eraser-less lead pencils followed behind. I turned the backpack upside down and shook out the dust and bits of paper.

I stood up, kicking around the clothes on the floor, picking through the ones I felt was clean enough, and tossed them onto the bed.

One by one I shoved each clothing article into the now empty book-bag. I never cared to learn how to fold, so this was the best I could do.

I slipped some eyeliner, mascara, and my favorite red eyeshadow in the small side pockets, and left to go find my worn black Vans, which were buried under a pile of clothes.

I grabbed a pair of socks out of my closet and walked back over to my bed. I let my body fall against the creaking mattress, and for a minute, I was staring up at the crackled ceiling, remembering how I would stare so much at it, that I would see animals. I stared at a section where I use to see a figure of a grazing horse, yet my mind could not see anything other than the clumpy texture.

I raised my leg up and reached to slip a blue sock over the foot, and then the other.  Afterwards, I let my arms and legs lie flat once more.

All those times, locked inside these four walls. Hoping. Wishing. Pleading to be free. And now I'm breaking free.

I sat back up and got off the bed. I threw my shoes to the floor and shoved each of my feet in them.

When I got them, they were too small, so I pressed the heel inside the shoe and wore them like you would wear bedroom shoes. You can't always get what you want at a garage sell.

Zipping up the backpack, I glanced at my wristwatch. 3:17A.M. Dad woke up at 4A.M. to get ready for work, and mom never woke up before 7:30A.M.

Kids always talk about sneaking out of the house, and they almost always have stories about them jumping out their window.

I never understood it. Why can't you just quietly walk out the front door?

I decided to not bring my iPhone, since everyone knows that you can locate one just as easily as locating the nearest Dunkin' Donuts. I removed the phone from my pocket and chucked it in a drawer.

I slowly opened my bedroom door, and walked slowly towards the kitchen.

There was just enough light shining from the streetlight outside the window that I could look inside mom's purse.

$20, $40, $60, $80. Mom always kept money in her purse, but almost never used it. So now it will be put into good use.

I crammed the dollars in my back pocket and headed for the door.