The lonely road

I was alone now. Sitting on my bed, thinking. It was pretty much all I do now a days.

I wrap my arms around my legs and sigh. Nobody would see me cry. I take steady, deep breaths. I just need to relax, relieve the tension from my bones. I rub head as pain bounces around my skull.

I could hear my mother downstairs. She is still laughing at joke from earlier in the night. I didn't find the joke as funny as her. Pain pounded over and over in my skull. She continued to laugh. I heaved a giant sigh again.

I needed to get out. I needed to be free. I listened to her laughing downstairs. I needed to get away from her tyranny. I listened for a moment more before sighing again. I needed to wait. I had to wait for her to let her guard down. Right now, I bet she could hear me breathing up here. There was no way she would let me go.

I remember, long ago, standing at the entrance to our cave looking out over the mountains. Surely, out there, I could lose her. Maybe then I could be free.

I rub my arm absently and feel the indention of my scars. I remember all the accidents that my mother would have and how I always seemed to get hurt around her. I stare at my scar and wonder if it truly was an accident.

I needed to be free.

I just had to wait for night fall.

I have to be quiet. If I'm not quite she will wake up and get me. I have dimmed my tail flame so she won't see me. She does sleep with one eye open to keep an eye on me. If she wakes up, I'm doomed. Not only will she catch me but I will probably get hurt again. I can't defend myself now. With my tail flame so low I wouldn't be able to fight back against her. It is taking all my energy just to move around.

I have to move quietly. I have to move slowly as not to disturb anything so she won't wake up.

I hear her breathing hitch and she hiccups. I freeze, not moving a muscle and hold my breath. Maybe, just maybe, if I do this she won't wake up and catch me. I wait for what seems like an infinite time but her breathing slowly returns to the dreamlike quality and I sigh. I close my eyes briefly but open them with renewed energy. I can taste my freedom. I can taste the fresh air already.

I want that fresh air and freedom.

YES!

I'm out! Quickly, I descend the mountain side and make my way to a crevice. If I get in there, I will start on my way to being my own person. Out there, I can finally be the person I'm meant to be.

Oh, you want to know my name? Hmm… I hadn't really thought about it. My mother never gave me one so I guess you can call me Fletcher. I like this name.

Wait, you want to know what I was doing in a cave? Geez, you don't know anything do you?

I am a charmander.

My mother is a charmeleon but we're not going to talk about her or think about her anymore. I mean, this is my story right?

Then let's begin.