That night after everyone had gone to sleep I slid my most prized possessions into a bag and some clothes and slipped off down the stairs. I still had my mom's credit card from before she died, so I headed for the airport.

I bought an electronic ticket back to my home town. The plane was leaving in an hour so it didn't leave time for them to even realize I was gone.

I thought about calling Aunt Susan, but I decided to wait until I got there so she couldn't call my dad.

The plane ride seemed to take forever. It seemed to strange that when we left the trip had past in a heart beat, but going home seemed to take so long.

The plane landed in my home town at six in the morning. I thought about calling Aunt Susan, but I knew she was off so I just headed to her apartment.

I stood on the doorstep, hoping that calling my father would not be the first thing she did. It took a few minutes before she got to the door.

I heard her call out," Who's there?"

I answered," It's me Aunt Susan."

The door opened and she said," Get in here. What are you doing here? Does your dad know you're here?"

There was the question I was hoping it would have taken her longer to figure out. I debated whether to tell her I had run away or that he knew. I wanted as much time as possible, so I decided to tell her he knew.

I said," He said it would be okay for me to stay here for a little while until I felt more comfortable with staying there." I hoped the was enough like him for her not to question.

She gave me a funny look but finally said," It's to early for me to question you. Are you tired?" I shook my head yes.

She said," Come on, let's get some more sleep and we'll talk later."

Aunt Susan had a one bedroom apartment, so I decided to sleep on the floor by her bed. Most of the time we just shared the bed when I stayed with her, but I knew she would talk more if I was laying beside her, and I really couldn't sleep at the moment anyway.

I laid there on the floor for about an hour before I gave up and walked into the living room. I sat down on the couch and turned on the TV and turned it down low. She came out about a half hour later. She sat down beside me and took the remote from my hand. I thought she was just going to switch to the news or something, but she turned it off and said," I talked to your dad."

I started to get up, but she pulled me back down and said," No, you have to talk to me!" I sat down as I started to cry.

She asked," Why did you run away from home and tell me he said you could come."

I looked her straight in the eyes as my tears came faster. I said," I didn't run away from home. I ran away to home."

She pulled me into her arms and held me tight. She held my head against her chest as I sobbed. Slowly I calmed down and laid there listening to the sound of her heart beating. I felt so safe here, so wanted.

This was my home. This is where I wanted to be.

After a few minutes, Aunt Susan spoke up and said," You know I have to send you back?"

I pulled away and begged," Please, please don't send me back. I don't want to go back. I want to stay here with you. Please, let me stay here!"

She said," Sarah, look at me and listen closely. I need you to give this some time. If in six months you still feel like you want to come back then we will talk about it, but until then every time you show up here I will send you back."

I said as I grabbed my stuff and headed for the door," Fine, if you don't want me I'll find someone who does."

She ran after me. She yelled," Sarah stop. You can't spend your whole life running away. Stop, let me take you back to Glen Oak."

I said," Go back into your apartment and just forget you saw me. I won't bother you again. I promise." I had taken her EL card and I knew she didn't have any money with her. I used the card and got onto the train before she made it to the platform. I watched her standing there as the train pulled away.

When I got to the airport I bought a ticket to the relative farthest away from everyone.

My mom had three sisters, Susan, Alex, and Jo.

Jo lived in Vermont where she was a teacher at a boarding school, and Aunt Alex lived in the keys.

I was going to see Aunt Alex. I spent the whole day on the plane. Aunt Alex was standing at the gate when I got off the plane. She hugged me really tight.

I asked," How did you know?"

She said," Susan called…she traced your mom's credit card."

I asked," Are you going to send me back too?"

She said," Right now we are going back to the house, but tomorrow I'm going to fly with you to Glen Oak and I'm going to stay with you for a week, then Susan is going to come stay and Jo is checking to see if she can come see you to. You have to stay with your dad though Sarah."

I followed her to get my bag as I cried.

I slid into the passenger seat of the car and turned away from her and looked out the window.

Aunt Alex lived on the beach and I had always loved spending a few weeks each summer with her and my uncle and cousins.

I wanted to stay here and never go home. I never wanted to leave.