Fate has a Name
Chapter 1
I had no choice but to leave my life behind. The abuse I've put up with for almost 3 years, not being close to my family anymore because I chose my love life over my bloodline. Being belittled by the man I thought loved me turning into being smacked around and being told what to do, what to say and what to wear. Having to get permission to visit my only friend I had, just to end up losing her too. I just found out I was pregnant, and after I told Mark about the news. Well, lets just say smacking me was his way of saying get rid of "it". Oh, I'll get rid of it alright, this life is what I'm getting rid of. Thanks to all the savings bonds I've cashed in and my life's savings and my inheritance that Mark didn't know about I got from my grandfather I have just under $150,000 to start a new life for both me and my Baby. Mark works at 10 pm tonight, so this is my one and only chance. What makes it easier to do, he is working a double shift. I know my play. I know the best thing for me to do right now is act like everything is normal, I have to before he knows something is up.
It's 6:47pm and I'm finishing up dinner. Tonight I made a simple batch of spaghetti, sauce and garlic bread. Basic, I know. My skills in the kitchen aren't necessarily welcomed here because I've always been told that I am trash and I shouldn't try to out do myself. So I stick to the basics. I'm stirring up the sauce when Mark yells from the other room.
"Get me a beer!" he yells. I roll me eyes knowing that this is his daily routine. Beer, dinner, shower, work, sleep, beer, sex, sleep and repeat. I get him a beer from the back of the fridge because it's the coldest, and that's how he likes it. I set it on the table next to his chair after taking off the cap. "When's dinner going to be ready? He asked me as I set down his beer. "It's about done. Maybe 5 more minutes" I say with a smile. "Good, I'm starving." He replies as I walk back to the kitchen. I add the sauce to the noodles and mix it all together. I put his TV tray together and set it in front of him followed by retrieving his plate of dinner. Swiping two pieces of garlic toast and putting it on his plate, I make sure I grab his silverware and a fresh beer and bring it to him. "Dinner is ready Babe". Mark looks up at me pleased at the smell his dinner brings to him. "Thank you" he sits up and continues "looks good, and thanks for the fresh beer!" he smiled. "You're welcome" I smiled like nothing was wrong. I go retrieve my plate after setting up my table and I sit on the end of the couch closest to his chair.
I almost feel bad for leaving him tonight, our meal together seems to be going great. I start to second guess myself and reconsider my plan. My thoughts were cut off with his random question. "When are you having your little problem taken care of?" Knowing what Mark meant by that, I decide rather quickly to make up a lie. "Tomorrow morning, the sooner the better." I replied before taking a bite of my spaghetti. Mark nodded his head "Good, and I agree. I hope you weren't expecting me to go with you?" he asked in a questioning tone. "No, No I can go by myself. No worries." I say with fake certainty. "Good deal." He assured himself as he turned up the volume on the television. I look at him with such hate as I hold back the tears.
After a little bit, we finish our dinners and I take our dishes to the sink to clean them up. Mark finishes his beer and watches the last of his TV show while I clean up the kitchen. As I'm putting the last of the dishes away and finish cleaning up the kitchen Mark comes up behind me and firmly grabs my waist and pulls me closer to his front. I freeze as he moves my long brown hair to one side of my neck. "I'm going to shower and head to work. Tomorrow after your appointment, I want you in bed waiting for me to get home from my double." He kisses my neck. "I'll be there Babe, waiting for your arrival. You're clean coveralls are on the bed along with everything else." I say sweetly as I look at him. He moves his hand to caress my face "You've learned, good girl. My lunch?" "Is left over spaghetti and garlic bread in separate containers and I even made you a small salad on the side with your favorite dressing in a smaller container." I say proudly. "Good. I'll be out in about fifteen minutes." he replies as he heads towards the bathroom. I check the clock as he walks around the corner and see that it is 8:58pm. "It's almost time" I say to myself. I go get Mark's boots ready for him and set them by his chair because that will be he final step into him leaving for work. I stand at the end of the couch with his lunch in one hand and his wallet in the other to make sure he doesn't forget anything.
Mark comes out of our bedroom and sits in his chair to put his boots on. Once he's done, he stands up and I had him his wallet, and his lunch. He gives me a quick kiss on the cheek then heads out the door. I follow him to watch him get in the car as he leaves for work. I wait for him to turn the corner like I always do and I run to the bedroom and reach under the bed and grab my pre packed suitcase, and my smaller bag to put all of my bathroom supplies in. I rush around like there is no tomorrow to gather all of my bath things. Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razors, shaving cream, tooth brush and tooth paste, hair brush, everything is packed and whatever I don't have I can get new when I'm out of this horrible place. I zip up the bag after doing the last check to make sure I have everything and carry my stuff to the door as I wait for my taxi to arrive. Thankfully I didn't have to wait that long, the taxi showed up rather quickly. I grab my bags and leave the house without giving a care in the world about the front door being unlocked. The driver put my bags in the trunk while I held onto my purse and got in the back seat. Once the driver got my bags in the trunk he returned to his seat, turned around with a smile on his face "Where to?" he asked. I looked at him with the blankest stare. Where was I going to go? Then I realized that for the first time in too long, I was going to be able to make my own decisions, do what I want, go anywhere I want. So I said the first thing that popped into my head "the farthest you can take me, away from here." The Driver nodded and replied asking "I can take you to the train station if that's ok?" "YES!" I immediately continued "The train station is perfect, thank you." He didn't say anything. He just drove. My eyes filled up with tears of joy, and as a single tear slid down my right cheek I hold my hand to my stomach and whisper "I'll never let anything happen to you. I promise."
About a half hour drive later, we pull in front of the train station. The driver opens my door and I step out as he retrieves my luggage. I hand him two hundred dollars, which is more than I owed but I figured that if he was willing to bring me here, he deserved recognition with a nice tip. As he's driving away I walk up to the ticket booth while I'm looking at the departure times and see that a train will leave at 12:05 to Louisville, Kentucky is only a 10 minute wait, and in coincidence being where my best friend Alyssa lives. I purchase a ticket and board train number 2. It's barely even crowded when I find a seating area where no one is away from everyone and set my stuff down. I put the rest of my money in he pocket on the inside of my jacket and carefully keep my belongings close to me. I hope and pray to myself that Alyssa will forgive me for making the choice I did, but part of me is prepared for her to tell me to go to hell as well. I look around to see maybe six or seven other people on the train scattered around the seats as the Conductor comes to collect and punch the tickets. When he arrives to me, I hand him my ticket and he punches it. "Enjoy the ride." He says. "I will try to" I reply with a smile. I sit back to enjoy the ride while I think to myself the possibility of my best friend slamming the door in my face but I am also hoping that Alyssa will let me explain myself. She has always been the understanding type, but she's also the type that will hold a grudge. The train ride will take about 37 hours from Colorado Springs to Louisville. I gather up my things and collect my small throw pillow that I got from my Grandma when I was 3 years old along with the afghan she made me for my eighteenth birthday right before she passed away and curl up on comfy seat and sink into unconsciousness.