That is, until I felt something grab my feet causing me to fall. I looked back and there he was, all bloodied, holding on to my ankle with the grip of death.

I kicked him in his nose with all my might, breaking it, and he still wouldn't let go.

"Dammit! You're like fucking Freddy Krueger! You won't fucking die!" I screamed.

He managed to pull me back in his grasp and this time he held me in the choke-hold, with his huge arm wrapped around my neck. He pulled tighter and tighter until I felt the air leaving my system and myself turning purple. He thrashed me around violently as he did, making me hit everything as I scratched and clawed.

I bite down on his arm as hard as I could, locking my jaw and shaking my head like a pit bull trying to tear meat from bone.

He screamed out in agony before releasing me, I immediately grasped my throat to let air back in my system. Before I had time to react, he had me up against the wall again by the throat.

"Leah, Leah stay with me." He said snapping in my face as my head stopped spinning.

"I hope you learned something valuable." He said between breaths, evilly with an ugly devious half smirk. He thought he'd won.

"Yeah, I did…" I said while taking a breath. "I should've never said yes to you." I'd already had the vase that sat on the little table against the wall in my hand, and I smashed it into his head. He fell to the ground. That was it. He was out for the count.

I wiped the blood from my bottom lip shakily while I took one look at the bloody asshole on the floor. I couldn't see his chest moving.

"I'm about to walk out that door Sam. Are you breathing?" I said cruelly before walking into the living room. The baby was still screaming his head off, and he was scared when he saw all the blood on my face. I saw Sam's jacket on the couch and picked it up. I cleaned myself up with it, before tossing it on the floor. I walked over to the baby to try and calm him down.

"Shh…Sammy it's okay…it's okay…mommy's here baby…everything's going to be fine now…I promise."

"Merry Christmas." I said over my shoulder as I picked up his seat and carried him outside, and then I strapped him in the car. I could only pray that the car ride would calm him to sleep like it usually does. After all, this was going to be a long drive.

I got on the highway and started to drive home, a trip I was sure would take about 4 hours give or take. I'd never wanted to move so far away from home, from my family, it was all Sam's idea.

I drove the first few hours in complete silence, alone with my thoughts. As I drove, the weather changed, a snow storm was picking up and there was a light layer of snow on the highway. There were fewer cars out there.

As I drove, all I could think about was Sam, and what he'd do if he found us. I knew I was going to an obvious place, because it'd be the first place he would look. Although it's supposed to be the safest place in world, would I feel save? Would Sammy and I ever be safe? Would we running for the rest of our lives? Was I putting everyone I loved in danger by going back here? Was I even sure I knew what Sam was really capable of?

It was then that I started to doubt everything I was doing, if it was the right decision, and if I was headed to the right place.

And to top it off, it was getting so bad I could barely see out the window and the gas tank was running low.

Some Christmas Eve this turned out to be. It was Sammy's first Christmas, luckily he wouldn't remember most of it.

Unnerved, I turned on the radio to break the silence in the car, and all the stations played Christmas music except for one. To down to get in the Spirit I settled for the one that wasn't.

"She was driving last Friday on her way to Cincinnati
On a snow white Christmas Eve
Going home to see her Mama and her Daddy with the baby in the backseat
Fifty miles to go and she was running low on faith and gasoline
It'd been a long hard year…"

Hearing the truth of these words sent my mind on a trip down memory lane and everything I went through with Sam. I shook my head trying to focus, thinking about how much I had in my purse in case we had to get a hotel room…

I would have to stop somewhere for gas…and soon…

And there was the possibility that Sam could be following us, knowing exactly where we were headed. He had a mustang and drove like a bat out of hell, so I wouldn't have much time to stop in one place…

But where to stop?

As all of these thoughts ran through my mind I stopped paying attention to just how hard I was pressing the gas pedal, and the car was now up to 70 miles per hour in the snow. I blinked suddenly when I saw a set of headlights headed directly for us, and lost control of the car.

I'd hit a thin black sheet of ice that looked like glass and started spinning and I couldn't get back in control, my heart was beating faster than it ever beat before, and tears fell like rivers from my eyes as adrenaline pumped in my system.

I blinked and when I opened my eyes, I was seeing…but I wasn't really seeing.

I saw both our lives flash before me, and it was glorious. I was happy, Sammy was happy, and we were fine. I saw a face constantly with mine, but I couldn't really tell who it was or their facial features. All I know is that Sam was not in the picture.

All I could think was, "I have to save Sammy…"

Suddenly something spoke to me, in a calm way, telling me it would be alright. That everything would be fine, all I had to do is let go.

Now this scared me half to death. It was the scariest feeling I'd ever experienced in my life. Let go? Are you kidding me? Are you serious? Just let go and leave my life and my baby's life in the hands of fate?

Taking a deep breath, I squeezed my eyes shut and threw my hands up in the air with nothing but faith in my heart.

"Jesus, take the wheel…" I whispered in prayer as the car continued to spin.

Suddenly the car stopped spinning and I could control it again. I immediately pulled over on the shoulder and cut it off, trying to catch my breath and calm my heart. I wiped the tears away from my face, panting frantically, trying to prevent myself from hyperventilating and having a panic attack. That was the last thing I needed right now.

I'd only cut the car off for a few minutes but the cold was already setting in. It must've been below zero outside. I wiped the windshield a few times because I saw something in front of the car.

It was a highway sign, and it read that Forks was only 50 miles away. I was almost home to La Push.

I looked to the ceiling in relief and glanced back at Sammy. He was sleeping like a rock. Tears started falling down my cheeks again as I thought of how absolutely lucky we were. I knew I had something to do, something I should've done a long time ago. I hadn't done it in a long time.

I bowed my head to pray. My bottom lip started trembling. "It's…been a long time since we've spoken, huh? But I know you know how I am, and how it was, and the reasons why I couldn't…why I didn't believe anymore. Not like I used to. I gave up. I gave up hope. I gave up on you, and I gave up on myself. And…I'm…I'm sorry for the way…I've been living my life. I know I've got to change…for my son and for myself. I know my life has been pretty messed up to this point...and I just need some help. I need some guidance and faith. So take it from my hands…please just take control. Because I can't do this on my own, not anymore. I'm letting go. I'm walking away from that in hopes that you'll give me one more chance. To save me from the road I was on. So from now on, starting tonight, I promise I will be changed." I said softly as I reached back and stroked Sammy's foot. I just needed to feel some part of him here with me to make sure he was alright.

I said amen and opened my eyes, and things looked different to me. I suddenly had faith. I knew I would make it home. I knew Sam would never be able to touch us again. And I knew we would be just fine.