"Are you going on vacation?" I look to my left at the woman in the seats across from me, a friendly smile on her face. She's an attractive older woman, probably in her late 50's but everything about her screams working class. Her untidy, blonde hair is at her shoulders and her face is without makeup. Her clothes are cheap, not designer like mine. Despite all of this, I find myself being jealous of the woman; I bet she's not running away like I am.

I force a smile at her, the muscles on my face feeling sore because, honestly, I haven't even tried to smile in weeks. "I'm actually going home to visit some old friends."

"Old friends? You don't look old enough to have old friends." She jokes.

"Well, I haven't seen them in 5 years so it's been a long time."

The woman glances at my hand and her smile widens "Oh your married! That's such a beautiful ring."

I force a smile as I glance down at the giant rock on my ring finger. This is the kind of ring I'd always dreamed of having. I always thought that wearing a beautiful ring every day would be the perfect symbol of our love and I would immediately feel safe and loved. However, when I look at this ring I'm just reminded of how I feel like someone's possession and this ring is just a symbol of how I have no freedom.

I look at the woman's hand and she's also sporting a ring on her left hand, hers is much smaller than mine but I can already see how different her life is. This woman has had a smile on her face ever since we all climbed onto the bus as she chatted to the others around her. Nothing about her seems tired, just happy and honestly, I'm just exhausted.

"How long have you been married?" She asks me.

I look back up at the lady "2 years. What about you?"

She smiles brightly as she looks down at her hand "Nearly 30 years. There's nothing like love."

"You can say that again" I mumble.

"I'm Karen."

I smile at her "Jackie."

"Are you okay? You look a bit pale"

I nod "Yeah I'm just tired. We've been on this bus for a long time."

"I think we'll be stopping at a rest stop soon" Karen reassures me.

"Well, it'll give me a chance to tidy myself up a bit before we arrive."

My hands are shaking as I try to dial a number that I use to call so much it was like second nature to me. All those years of dialling this number, I never thought I'd be standing in a phone booth at a rest stop ready to beg for help.

I take a deep breath as I wait for someone to answer, trying to calm myself down. "Please pick up" I whisper to myself. Each second feels like an eternity as I wait with the phone at my ear until the dial tone disappears and is replaced with a familiar voice.

"Hello?" As soon as I hear the familiar voice again, I feel like I can finally breathe.

"Hello Mrs Forman, it's Jackie."

"Oh Jackie, It's so lovely to hear from you. It's very late though. Could you try and call back sometime tomorrow?"

"I actually need your help." I place a hand on my stomach, the pain still as bad as it was when I left New York. There's pain all over my body, but nothing is as bad as my stomach. "I'm on a bus on my way to Point Place."

"A bus? Wow, I never thought I'd hear you say that."

"Can I stay with you for a while? I have nowhere else to go"

"Jackie? Is everything okay?"

I nod even though I know she can't see me "I'm fine. Please, can I stay with you? I have money"

"Oh, honey, of course, you can. What time does your bus arrive? I'll have Mr Forman pick you up"

"Midnight."

"Okay well, he'll be there. Will you be hungry? I baked some cookies today or I can cook you something."

"I'll be fine. Thank you, Mrs Forman, I'll see you later."

"Bye Jackie."

I hang and immediately feel a weight lift off my shoulders. I quickly check to see how long I have before I need to be back on the bus and then head towards the bathroom to touch up my makeup.

As soon as I see my reflection in the mirror, I am taken aback by how different I look from the old Jackie. Karen was right, I do look extremely pale and there are dark circles under my eyes, making me look ill. I reach into my bag for my makeup and quickly apply some concealer and blusher to give some colour.

I lift up my shirt to inspect my stomach and my eyes widen at the bruises covering my body. I grimace in pain as I lower my shirt. I probably should've gone to the hospital, that's what someone else might have done, someone stronger. I couldn't go back there though, I'd already been once this week and that visit is one I will never forget.

All I could think last night, as I lay on the floor was that I had had enough so I waited for my husband to leave our apartment before I picked myself up off the floor, packed a bag and left without looking back. He'll know I'm gone by now. I wonder if he even cares enough to look for me or if he just decided to drown his sorrows in alcohol like he usually does like I use too.

I know if he looks for me, he'll eventually look in Point Place. He's not stupid, that'll probably be one of the first places he'll check. I'm just hoping that he'll think that all the pain in Point Place will make him think I wouldn't go there. At least long enough for me to figure out what I do next.

I step off the bus, trailing my heavy bag behind me. I've been on this bus for almost a full day so I'm honestly too tired right now. I look around for the familiar face of the man who had acted as more of a father than my own.

I can't help the small smile that forms on my face when I see looking uncomfortable standing next to his car. Same old Red. I walk towards him. "Hi, Mr Forman."

Red frowns slightly "Jackie." He takes my bag "Get in"

I climb in the front seat as he puts my bag in the back. It's the same car he always had, he used to drive me home in this car because he and Mrs Forman didn't want me walking all that way on my own.

"So you want to tell me what's going on?" Mr Forman asks as he climbs in the driving seat and starts the car.

I look at him "I'm too tired right now Mr Forman. Can I tell you tomorrow?"

He shrugs his shoulders "Fine." He then sighs. "Just when I thought I'd gotten rid of all you dumbass kids."

His words are so familiar that I can't help myself but laugh. Then I remember something that I hadn't even considered for the last 24 hours. "So where is everyone living now?" I ask even though I really only care about the location of one person in particular.

"Eric and Donna did us all a favour and moved to Madison, he still shows up too much for my liking. Kelso is still in Chicago with Brooke and the kid, the foreign kid spends a lot of his time up there with them and Steven is in an apartment in Point Place. Obviously, they'll all be coming home this weekend, unfortunately."

"Coming home? Why?"

"For that damn wedding of course. I thought that's why you were here."

I shake my head "I don't know anything about it. Whose wedding is it?"

"Eric and Donna's. She said she sent you an invite but you never replied."

I sigh as I realise what happened "I haven't been getting a lot of my mail recently."

Red glances at me "Well, I'm sure they won't hold it against you."

We spend the rest of the drive in silence as I try to stop myself from crying. I can't believe I didn't know they were getting married; Donna was my best friend and Eric... Well, Eric was okay too. I care about them both so much and I had no idea about this all because he was hiding my mail and any contact I had with the outside world.

I can't believe I've missed all of this. I'm Betsy's godmother and I haven't even seen her since she was a baby. She'd be about 6 now, a little girl. I haven't seen any of them since the day I packed my bags and left for New York. That was the plan, everything had become too complicated and I was in a lot of pain so I had to leave. I thought if I left things would get better, I thought that I'd move on and meet someone and live happily ever after. I can't believe how wrong I was.

Mr Forman parks the car in the drive of the house I had spent most of my time in at one point but that was when I was with Steven. I climb out the car, immediately being greeted by Mrs Forman

"It's so good to see you." She says with a smile as she pulls me in for a hug.

I pull away and smile at her "It's really good to see you too."

"Do you want some food? I can make you a sandwich."

I shake my head "No it's okay. I'd like to just get some sleep if that's okay?"

Mrs Forman nods "Of course. Red, take her bags to Laurie's old room and make sure she has everything she needs."

I smile in appreciation at Mrs Forman before following Mr Forman to Laurie's room. He puts the bags on the floor and turns to me "Need anything?

I nod "Thank you, Mr Forman."

"Well, I guess if one of you kids were going to come back and stay here then I'm glad it's you."

I smile at him "Thank you. That means a lot."

"Well, I'll leave you to it." He mumbles as he leaves the room and I'm left on my own again.

The next morning I'm finally calm enough to worry. I've spent the last 48 hours in a grief-stricken state which lead me to make a decision I didn't think through properly. I just wanted to get away from New York. Now that I'm in Point Place, all I can do is worry about what happens next. What happens if he finds me here? What will he do to me? What will happen when I have to face my old friends? What will I tell Mr and Mrs Forman about why I'm here? There are just so many questions going around my head. Questions I don't know if I can answer. If I'm being honest, I don't know why I'm here. I just know I needed to get out of New York and I don't have anywhere else to go but come home to Point Place.

After quickly getting dressed, I walk down the stairs and straight into the kitchen. I was so tired last night that I didn't stop properly to take in just how much I love this house. It looks just the same as it always did.

"Good morning Jackie."

I smile as I see Mrs Forman cooking breakfast and Mr Forman at the table reading his paper. It's just how it always was, except for a few people who always filled the chairs that are now left empty. "Good morning Mr and Mrs Forman. Is there anything I can do to help?"

She shakes her head at me "No you're the guest. Sit down and drink some juice, I'll bring your breakfast over."

I nod as I sit at the table "So Mr Forman, what are the headlines today?"

He grunts "Same crap as always."

I smile at the comment but before I can say anything, a plate of pancakes, eggs and bacon is placed in front of me. "Thank you. This looks amazing."

"I'll bet." Mrs Forman sits in a seat while Mr Forman lowers his paper, both of them looking straight at me. "So Jackie, are you feeling up to telling us what's wrong? We're honestly both so worried about you"

I sigh "Mrs Forman I'm fine. I just needed to get away."

"Without your husband?" She comments, glancing at the ring on my finger.

I look down at the piece of jewellery. I know I should have taken it off and I honestly don't know why I didn't. A relationship that lasted nearly 5 years and most days I was terrified. This ring is just a reminder of the 2-year marriage I was forced to enter into to try and improve things. It just made them worse.

"I'm sorry I never told you I got married." I frown as I look back up at the Forman's "His names Andrew. We went to the city hall 2 years ago. I didn't really tell anyone."

"Where is he?" Mr Forman asks.

"I left him."

Mrs Forman frowns at me "Why dear? I'm sure things can be worked out"

I take a deep breath as I shake my head "Not this time Mrs Forman. Some marriages aren't meant to last"

Mrs Forman wraps an arm around me. "You can stay as long as you want until you decide what you're going to do."

I lean my head on her shoulder. "Thank you."

I walk down the stairs into the basement; part of me is expecting to see everyone there. Hyde would be in his usual chair and I would sit on his lap like I always did. He'd wrap an arm around me and I'd lean back into the comfort of his arms. The people in this house were all I had. I'd never admitted that to them but I think they knew, I know Hyde did.

6 years ago-

"Why are you still in that house by yourself? Your moms gone again." Hyde asks me as I plant myself on his bed while he gets ready for work.

I sigh "She's not gone, Steven. She's just on vacation."

He rolls his eyes at me "Vacation? She's been gone months. You come here every day because you're scared of being home alone."

I glare at him "I'm not scared of anything. I come here to see you"

"Really? Even though I'm on my way to work? You still came here at 6am just to see me?" He asks as he steps in front of his tiny mirror to do is tie.

"I wanted to see you before you left. We're in a relationship, Steven; I should be able to support you without being judged."

"I'm not judging you but you need to remember that I know you so I know you hate being home alone." He sighs as he does his tie wrong "Dammit!"

I smile at him as I stand up and walk towards him "Come here." I grab the tie out of his hands and I tie it perfectly.

He frowns "How do you know how to do that?"

I shrug my shoulders "I use to do my dad's tie for him." I lean in and kiss him on the cheek "Have a good day puddin' pop"

Steven groans at the name but I know he secretly loves it, just like I know that he loves me. He doesn't say it but I know he does.

Even though he never said it, I know Steven was worried about me on my own after my mom left and he was right, I hated it. I hate the loneliness, I hated how quiet the house was and I was terrified at night. I would joke about it with my friends to try and avoid suspicion and to make myself feel better but it never worked. Every night, I'd walk into the big, empty house and it would just remind me of how lonely I really was.

"Jackie?"

I freeze as I look up at the door to see my former best friend and her fiancé. I force a smile at them "Hi guys"

"What are you doing here?" Eric asks, looking around the basement for any other signs of life.

"I'm here for your wedding of course. Your parents are letting me stay with them."

Donna looks at me curiously "We've been trying to get in contact with you for months. We sent out hundreds of invites."

I nod "I know but I actually moved to a new apartment so I haven't been getting a lot of my mail."

"I guess you needed to move in with your husband." She says as she glances at the ring on my finger.

I nod, forcing a smile. "Yeah, we just needed some extra space."

Eric and Donna both sit on the couch, turning their bodies to face me. "We had no idea you got married. When did this happen?" The lanky boy asks, trying to make polite conversation.

"2 years ago. His names Andrew, he's a lawyer."

Donna rolls her eyes "How predictable."

I look at her "Excuse me?"

"You got the perfect life you always wanted didn't you? Rich husband with a fancy job so you can just be a shallow housewife. Too bad you had to abandon your friends in the process."

I frown "I didn't abandon you. I had to get away, I told you that. And my life isn't perfect, it's far from it."

Eric sighs "You've both not seen each other in 5 years, can't you just enjoy it?"

My former best just rolls her eyes, ignoring her fiancé "I'm sure it's so hard spending your days shopping and holidaying at your Hamptons house."

I glare at her even though I don't have much of an argument. That is what my life had become, shopping and parties. I did have a job, a good job but Andrew made me give it up when we got married. I had regretted it every day since.

"You were almost becoming tolerable when you and Hyde were together but then you became the shallow brat you always were."

I just stare at her with tears in my eyes. Even Eric is shocked at the words coming out of his fiancé's mouth "Donna!"

I shake my head "No, it's okay Eric. She's been waiting 5 years to see me again so she could say that to my face. Honestly, I wish that life was still the life that would make me happy but it isn't. Because now I know what happens behind closed doors in those sorts of families and I don't want it anymore." I turn on my heel and walk out the basement door with no location in mind. I just need to get out of there.

If I'm being honest, I was looking for a privileged life when I moved to New York. I had chosen love and it had destroyed me so I decided to try and find comfort and wealth. However, I had no money so I had to get a job and I found a part-time job at a TV network just as an assistant. Before I knew it, I was being promoted. Then I was promoted again. Within 2 years, I had been promoted to a producer. I loved my job and I was good at it. I was earning amazing money and for the first time in my life, I could support myself. It felt amazing. I'd never known how empowering it could feel.

That all changed when I married Andrew and we moved in together. I knew the marriage was a mistake as soon as it happened but I was too scared to leave so I asked for the one thing that could make everything better; a baby. He agreed to us starting a family but told me I had to give up work to be a proper housewife, so I did. We never got our baby though. After all, he did to me, that is still the thing I'll never be able to forgive him for.