Tonight was the last straw. I couldn't let this happen again. In my mind I could still picture what happened, could still feel his hands all over me while I sat there, not daring to move and possibly make the situation worse. So I just sat there while my foster dad molested me and my foster mother stood there in my doorway watching and not doing anything. She just stood there smirking at me like I deserved it.
But I didn't. I didn't deserve this. What happened tonight or what happened since I got here, since I entered the system, not any of it.
After making sure that they were asleep, I snuck out the window with a backpack slung over my shoulder and climbed down the tree (total cliché I know), before running down the sidewalk and heading toward the bus station.
"Can I help you?" asked the person behind the counter.
"When's the next bus to LA?"
"The next bus to LA leaves in 10 minutes. Would you like a ticket?"
"Yes," I replied.
"One-way or round trip?"
"One-way," I said. The attendant handed me my ticket. Then before I stood outside to wait for the bus, I noticed 3 payphones by the restrooms. Going over to one and depositing 50 cents, I dialed one phone number from memory, one I remembered like it was an old friend. Which incidentally it did belong to an old friend. After dialing the number and hearing it ring 4 times, I was angered more so to hear nothing but a generic answering machine messages.
After the beep I said, "Hey." My voice started wavering, but I continued talking.
"Look I know it's been awhile. Almost 4 years now, but I want…I need your help."
Still not hearing anything from the other end I said, "Come on…are you there?"
No one picked up.
"I guess not."
In the background… "Passengers going to Los Angeles, your bus is now boarding. Once again passengers going to Los Angeles, your bus is now boarding."
Turning back to the payphone I said, "Look I'll be there in about 2 hours. If you're not home, I'll check the office. Please be there, because right now you are the only one I can trust. See ya soon."
Hanging up the payphone I went outside and boarded the bus. Pulling away from the station 2 minutes later, I closed my eyes, praying to the Powers that Be that I would get the help I needed in LA.
