Emma didn't know where she was running to, all she knew was that she needed to get away from her house. She ran towards the park, hoping that there, she would be able to be alone.
She stopped running as she reached the park. She looked around, for a quiet place, when her eyes spotted a familiar figure, sitting on a bench. Emma sighed with relief. "Mary."
The figure on the bench turned to look at her.
"Mary, please. You have to help me." Emma begged. "No one else…" She swallowed hard. "They seem to think I'm no good." She shook her head. "Something's wrong."
Mary frowned at her.
For a moment, Emma was afraid her friend was going to hate her too. But then the other girl nodded her head.
"You're going to help me?" Emma asked, shocked but very relieved.
Mary shrugged her shoulders. "I knew you were trouble." She smiled at the other girl. "Remember? We met in detention."
Emma shrugged her shoulders. She couldn't deny that.
"My family hates me, Mary. What am I going to do?"
The other girl shrugged. "Run away?"
"What?" Emma frowned. Did she hear that right?
"Run away with me." Mary repeated, forcefully this time. "We'll leave tonight."
Emma swallowed, thinking of her parents. In normal circumstance, she wouldn't even be considering it, but now …
"Okay." Emma said, nodding her head. She didn't have to think about it any longer. "Let's go then." She swallowed hard, thinking of all that she would leave behind. Her heart broke. But her family had made their decision. And so she would make hers.
Emma didn't bother going back to the house to get her things. She never wanted to set foot in that place again.