Chapter 7

I spring up from the curb and whirl around. Coming towards me is a figure, damp from the rain. I blink away the droplets of rain coating my vision.

"Father…" I whisper. At this point I should run, I guess. But somehow I cannot. He is my father first and foremost, no matter what he has done to me.

"Abby." He repeats, coming to a stop in front of me. I wince and look at my feet. I cannot look at him. He seems to read my mind. "Look at me, child."

I have to obey that compelling voice. I look up. Father looks presentable enough – strange, that. But his eyes – oh, his eyes! They are the eyes of a desperate man.

"Hello Dad…" I manage. Father looks at me for a long moment.

"Nice rain isn't it. I knew you'd be out somewhere in it." It takes a while for his words to sink in.

"Of course you knew!" I snap, sounding much braver than I feel. "She was your wife too!"

Anger flares in Father's eyes, and he half raises his hand to strike me. I cringe. But a car races by, reminding him that this is a public place. He thinks better of hitting me and lowers his hand. Each movement is a struggle for him.

"Abby." He says again, sounding very business-like. "The point is, I knew you'd be with your sister." I consider making a remark, but desist. "Look, Abigail, you know I'd have to come look for you sometime. You must come home."

"No!" I exclaim. I've been happier here than I've ever been in my entire life – how can he ask me to return? And what is there to return to? His unceasing abuse?

Father sighs – a regretful sound.

"I thought you'd say that." He says. "You can't run forever, Abigail."

"No." I whisper. "But I can hide."

"You have three days." Father holds up three fingers. "Three days in which to prove to me that you have a life out here, where I cannot find you. Three days in which to surrender."

"This isn't a movie, Father." I tell him quietly. "You can't put a limit on my life."

He glares down at me.

"Abigail, give up. The only reason why Lucy managed to survive was because she had Chris. You don't."

"I have Lucy…" Even to my ears, my words sound pathetic. Father laughs, a harsh, guttural sound.

"Lucy has a life without you. You don't have a life without me. I'll return for you Abby. You'll realise that you don't belong here."

With that he turns around and walks off, looking to the world like a law-abiding citizen. I sit back on the curb.

Now I realise that I never really knew Father. I always thought that he was all action and no words. But now I realise that his words are so much more frightening than his slaps and blows. I cannot tell anyone about him – I cannot! I would be putting them in so much danger and I would be putting myself in even more danger. And besides…

He is my father.

Simple as that – he is my father. I cannot betray him. Mother didn't; Lucy didn't. How can I?

I stand up slowly and walk along the road, kicking up droplets of water in puddles as I go. I walk in the rain as my feet take me where they wish to go.

I look around. I am standing in the park, under the tree where Jeremy and I –

No, don't think about it. It won't do any good.

I sit under the tree, leaning against its trunk. Its thick, leafy fronds shelter me from anyone outside my green haven. It is so easy to believe that I am living in a different world. Oh, how I wish.

The leaves rustle as someone invades my world. I close my eyes and remain as still as possible, hunched up in a ball against the tree, silently waiting.

Please don't let it be Father.

"Abby?"

I keep my eyes closed. I know that voice.

"Abby!"

I have to open my eyes now… please don't let it be him… please don't let it b-

"Jeremy!" His green eyes are centimetres from my face.

"What are you doing here?" We speak at the same time. He laughs easily. I don't. Soon, his laughter dies away into an awkward silence.

"I just felt like thinking." He says in answer to my question. "And yourself?"

"Same."

He looks at me, taking in my drenched clothing and my sodden hair.

"Why are you wet?" Jeremy asks me.

"Because it's raining." I reply drolly, turning away. I really don't want to talk to Jeremy, and for good reason too. I bend down and duck out under the tree's branches. Jeremy catches my arm.

"Abby, can't we at least be friends?" He begs me. I look scornfully at him.

"Why, don't you want me to spoil your perfect record?" He makes no answer, further infuriating me. "Look at me, Jeremy. This is who I am. This is who I am!"

I spread out my hands and spin in the rain. Jeremy catches me by the shoulders and draws me nearer. He looks into my eyes as I glare at him.

"What happened?" He asks, the question catching me unaware.

"What?" I ask, calm once more.

"Something's happened. What is it?"

I don't realise I am crying until the tears have made a pool at my feet. Similarly, I don't realise that Jeremy is hugging me until I feel his arms around me.

How long we stay like that, I do not know.

But when we finally draw apart, he looks down at me with such concern. Jeremy holds out his hand to me, and I take it.

"Home?" He asks.

"Home." I agree.

We walk from the park together.

If only I had looked behind us.

If only.