Chapter One: Escape

Apollo the Greek god of medicine was the only one Sapphire looked up to. Sure there where others more suitable but she found Greek Mythology fascinating. The girl had been confronted by an inevitable force although for many years she knew it had been coming, she never wanted to accept it. The blue eyed girl looked at her frail brown hair on the floor remembering how it use to be a rich dark brown. Her hazy gaze shifted the man standing in front of her. The man was dumpy and wrinkles covered most of his face. Seeming as this had not been the first time he had to break the news to someone as Sapphire. And although this statement was true he had never broke the news to someone as young as Sapphire. Someone who was only sixteen. Sixteen the age most people can't wait to reach. The age that represents freedom. Your driver's license. The age children only think about escaping from the reach of their parents and set off on new adventures of their own.

"I'm sorry we did everything we could." The aged man whispered. "I know you've been through a lot. With just losing your mom to cancer a few years ago it must be-"

"Stop." Sapphire interrupted. It was true her mom died when she was only twelve. Not enough time for Sapphire to spend with her mother. Sapphire thought back to when her mom was first diagnosed. All she remembered was crying. Her mom was strong throughout the whole process. Even when they were in a money crisis. She remembered hating her dad and blaming it on him. Doctors told her dad that his smoking was the cause of Sapphire and her mom's problems. That's how the cancer started. Second hand smoking. Sapphire looked at the elderly man. "Don't feel sorry for me. If I was stronger maybe then I would have made it." She miserably admitted.

She turned away walking out of the hospital not wanting to hear any more of what that doctor had to say. She opened the door to her black Ford Fusion. She put her keys in the ignition and let the car come alive. Thoughts of what just happened flew through her head. She slowly lowered her head on the wheel and let tears escape her eyes. She didn't like people see her crying it made her feel weak. She thought about how none of this would have happened if her father wasn't addicted to drugs. Cigarettes being the usual although sometimes illegal ones came into play. Her father. She never viewed him as a father only as the one that gave her mother a child out of wedlock. The one that had an abortion in mind the second he found out his 25 cent companion failed him. She remembered the last thing she said to him. It was the day she would never forget.

Months after her mother had passed her dad and her where having dinner. It was quiet between the two of them and Sapphire understood why. Finally her dad broke the silence.

"So your teacher called today," She was right she knew what this was about. She shuffled the Brussels Sprouts on her plate with her fork. "She said that she has noticed how your grades are slipping. She said she understands about what happened with your mom and that the grades aren't the problems you're still maintaining a B- average." He said gently. "She also told me what happened with you and Jessica. What I can't understand is why you did it. Why did you throw your lock at her?" His voice was more threatening.

Sapphire thought about it for a moment before replying. "She said something about mom. She called her a slut."

"So."

"So. Don't you think she deserved it."

"You threw you lock at her and gave her a black eye. Then you attacked her and broke her nose. If they press charges do know how much they can sue for. Your mom's dead Sapphire you have to move on."

"Yeah she's dead because of you," she got up pushing the chair with the inside of her knees, "because of your smoking. You should be the one dead. You're the one who smokes not mom."

She ran to her room leaving her dad a bit dumbfounded about what had just taken place. Once he heard the door to Sapphire's room slam close he began eating as if nothing had happened. Sapphire was in her room. Mad with tears going down her face and knew exactly what she wanted to do. She grabbed her school book bag and dumped her school books and homework on the stained carpet. She began packing. Clothes first only picking out her favorites. The bag was three fourths of the way full with clothes. Then she squatted on the floor with her hand under her bed searching for a box that was filled with pictures and other memories of her mom. She found the box and placed it on her knees she opened it slowly. And pulled out a picture of her and her mother at the beach. Her dad had been the one with the camera. She remembered that day clearly the smell of salt water and the Banana Boat sun screen combined. As well as the other vacationers there enjoying the beautiful summer day. She closed the box and quickly packed it away as she heard the footsteps of her dad come to her door. She could see the outline of his shadow from the light that was on in the hallway. Her heart thumped in her chest as if he was a criminal about to take the life of his next victim. He walked away to his room and left Sapphire alone. Sapphire's heart rate went back to normal. As soon as she heard the shower turn on she grabbed her bag and made a run for the kitchen.

Although she had just ate she filled the extra room she had in her bag with the rest of a loaf of bread, a half filled jar of peanut butter, and three bottles of water. She thought about what else she might need and thought about money. She went to the place her parents hide the money, behind the sofa in a hole in the wall. She stuck her hand in it a pulled out a stack of money with a rubber band around it there was no time to count and it didn't seem like enough. She listened for the sound of the shower. It was still on. She decided to go get some extra money. She ran to her parents room in search of more cash. She went her to parent's dresser and found more money sprawled out underneath some clothes. One last thing before she left. Sapphire slowly walked up to her parents closet and opened the door slowly thinking of her mom while she did so. She walked in and lightly touched one of her mom's piece of clothing. It was her mom's favorite blue and green turtle neck sweater that had the words "Remember Woodstock 1969" written across it with the O's in Woodstock being peace signs. Although now it would be a horrible fashion no-no it was given to her mom as a baby shower gift. Her mom was infatuated with Woodstock the only problem being she hadn't been born before the concert, but she still loved hearing stories about it from her own mother who had drove with her friends all the way from North Dakota to see it.

The water from the shower stopped scaring Sapphire a little. She took one whiff of the sweater and it brought back a certain aura that her mom only carried making Sapphire know what it really was like to be loved. She careful folded the sweater and zipped up her bag before she sprinted to her room. She looked around her room considering about staying instead but knew leaving would be best. She opened her window to the cold harsh world. The cool October air slapped against her face making her cheeks a rosy color almost instantly. Her dad had come back; he played with the handle of the door.

"Sapphire is your window open?" He questioned form the other side of the door. "Sapphire." he shoved against the door. It was locked. "Sapphire," he shouted furiously, "Damn it open the door." He paused for a second. "Don't' make me count to five. One… Two…"

Sapphire was perched at the window on the one story house.

"Three…" Now she told herself you have to go now. Her body wouldn't respond. "Four… Five!" He shoved his body against the door with all his weight opening it fully. He stumbled in the room only to find no sign of Sapphire. The first snow fall decided to pay a visit that night letting hundreds of tiny snowflakes descend into the room only to melt once they planted themselves on an object.

"Where do I go now?" She asked herself. She rummaged her hand through the glove compartment until she found what she was looking for. A map. She thought of places to go but couldn't find one she liked enough. Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Miami, D.C. No they were all big cities and she wanted to stay in America not wanting to spend money on a plane ticket some place. Plus if she did go on a plane want would happen to her car? She wanted to go someplace quiet someplace where there was a beach someplace nobody knew about.

She had a sudden realization of something. She turned to the back seat and grabbed her backpack the same one from the very night she left. She shook off the thought and grabbed her special box taking out her favorite memory. The one of her mother and her at the beach.

"That's perfect!" She shouted inside the car. Thinking that if someone saw her they would think she was crazy. She couldn't remember where they were that summer and turned the photo over hoping to find some evidence. It was dated and had the location on it.

June 17, 1997

Forks, Washington

"Ok then Washington," She looked at the map to make sure she knew where she was going, "here I come." The Fusion pulled out of the parking lot zooming down the highway.