Coming from an abusive household, Meredith Hill makes up her mind to finally escape. She runs till she meets a family friend who decides to take her in as one of her own. When high school is added to the mix, she must learn how to cope with her past...
"Yup!" I zip my backpack and shrug my cardigan over my shoulder. I slip my fuzzy sock covered feet into my UGGS and waltz downstairs.
"Gorgeous as ever," Reid complements. I roll my eyes playfully and follow him to his motorcycle. I wonder what it would be like to have my own.
As we ride through the streets I couldn't help but gaze up at the leaves falling from the trees in the most beautiful colors. Winter was less than a week away and I couldn't be happier to spend it with my new family.
Of course, the holidays have never been easy. It reminded me too much of my blood family. Melissa and I would decorate the Christmas tree on the first of December. We would make different ornaments every year and it was a tradition to take a picture of the two of us and write the year on the back. So our tree consisted of us growing up.
But all those pictures are with mother. Would she even decorate this year? She never did, it was always me decorating after the death of dad and Mel.
I wonder how she's doing . . .
What? No...no, Mere you can't think like that, she ruined you.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Reid chimes over the engine. We'd come to a stop at a red light.
"I was just think about my mom," I feel him tense under my hands around his torso. Had I struck a nerve?
"Baby," he pauses, I can feel his pity, "I'm sorry."
"It's fine. She hurt me, I could never forgive her."
The light turns green and he accelerates. Just as we pass through the intersection, headlights flash closer than necessary. I couldn't help but notice how fast the driver was . . . and that he wasn't even paying attention to the road.
"Rei—" before I could even finish the car makes impact. The sound of glass shattering echos in my ears. The smell of blood and hot metal wafts up my nose that makes me gag.
I didn't even notice I had screwed my eyes shut till everything is black. I hesitantly blink open my eyes. My vision isn't clear whatsoever, but I didn't miss the reaction of the driver when he notices me struggling in his windshield.
I can hear him pleading, but it sounds so far away. Sharp pains jolt in my head, I'm assuming pieces of glass. I reluctantly try to pull away. The glass slices more of my forehead but the pain is bearable considering how numb I am.
I roll off the hood of the car and land on the concrete with a thud. My body and mind are two completely different people right now; while my mind is begging to comply with the darkness my body resists, moving my limbs accordingly.
I barely can crawl. Every time I shift my weight on my hands my bones seer in pain.
I stop right next to a tire, the bikes tire. A flash of red trickles down my nose and lands on my hand. I have to keep moving.
Reid. Oh my god, Reid.
He looks so helpless; laying on the ground in an odd position with blood pouring out of his head and chest. I gather him in my arms and stroke his cheek, flicking away pieces of gravel.
I try to say his name, hoping that would awake him from his slumber, but nothing comes out. The ringing in my ears becomes louder and deafening, and I'm slowly losing consciousness.
"Reid," I try again. I can't hear myself speak but I know from the vibration of my throat that something escaped my lips.
I fall next to him and throw my arms around him making sure to avoid his injuries. I let the tears flow from my eyes no matter how numb I feel inside.
Is he dead? Am I dead?
The thought alone makes me whimper and cower into his side.
I let the darkness consume me whole, while the only thought on my mind is Reid.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
