Chapter 13 Running for our lives
P O V: Eva Dawson
"Passing through the fire of meditation, everything that is not your authentic reality, everything that is borrowed, will be burned away."
I heard that quote from my grandma after her marriage dissolved three years ago. She was trying to remain positive, upbeat for my dad, our aunt for us. It didn't work I could see how depressed, confused she was. Just like I am now, except like her I have to be strong for Diego who is still staring blankly out the car window.
We got lucky in a way after the gun went off the cops were distracted allowing us to get away, we hightailed it to my friend Marissa's house, she's a free spirit who likes to travel all over the world, her dad is a guitarist who is always touring, her mom a celebrity hairstylist, she has connections all over the world.
She ushered us inside quickly making drastic changes to us, shaving Diego's head, cutting my hair and dying it red, she gave me contacts which change my eyes to blue, she gave him green ones. Than she grabbed her stash of money which she keeps for Emergency situations. Her car keys and three burner phones, we took off in her car, according to her were heading for Miami. She has a cousin there who will help us out.
We've avoided public places, I'm scared to see the news, I have no idea how long it's been if anyone got shot, if they are okay. I pray no one got hurt because of us. It wasn't suppose to be like this. When Diego came to me he told me he needed a driver because him and Blake were going to teach some Ash kid a lesson, he had been sprouting off some B.S about hating cops, he said they were just going to scare them, I will admit Diego seemed genuinely shocked when Blake started to beat the kid nearly to death, he tried to stop it, but Blake is stronger, meaner.
Why Blake pulled the gun out I will never know, why would he try to shoot a cop? He was suppose to be pro-police. My head is still spinning. I'm glad I was there though the thought of my brother being on his own scared me even more. I can protect him, I will protect him, he won't know the harsh reality of being homeless.
I have no idea what I will do for work when we get to Miami. I'm only sixteen who will hire me? What kind of pay will I get? How will we pay rent? Will anyone even rent to us? So may questions, fears, worries. I wonder how my parents are. I never want them to worry about us, but I know better than to try to contact them. Dad's a cop he'll be all over it in a heartbeat.
"What state are we in now?" Marissa squints to see the nearest road sign we only travel at night less cops on the highways. We sleep in the car pulled over off the road into woods, or rest stops. It's worked so far, we wash up in bathrooms at those rest stops. We're smart about this not stealing or calling attention to ourselves, we travel in groups we giggle, and act natural. I can't believe we've fooled so many people. I keep waiting for the foot to drop. Keep praying god will watch over us, keep us safe, hidden while we running for our lives.