Before His Choice (His 0.5)

***

“That’s a big suitcase,” my father says, pointing at the one I’m hauling myself.

I refused any help from the bell boys for this one, and for good reason. “Ahh … yeah, I wanted to bring extra clothes this time.”

“Hmm … interesting,” he says.

I swallow hard.

I can only hope he won’t see through my lies. If he finds out what precious cargo I’m bringing, he’d probably strangle me himself.

“This is your room. Mine’s across the hall,” he says. “Be on time tomorrow. Get dressed properly. But that shouldn’t be a problem, right?” He eyes the suitcase again.

I nod, and say, “Of course. Good night.”

He pats my back and walks into his room, shutting the door before I can say another word. But I don’t even care. I immediately go into my own room and shut the door behind me before I breathe a sigh of relief.

It’s not often that I get to be outside the community, and it’s always scary to see how they do things here. But more importantly … I have a package that needs to be unpacked.

I go through my things and pull out a long, hooded robe that I stole from home. I hope no one will recognize me like this.

I open the door again and peer outside. No one to see. I quickly haul the suitcase through the hallway and go into the elevator. Right then, the door to my father’s room opens. I gasp and hide behind the doors while they close just in time before he spots me.

I hope.

My heart is racing, and the second I arrive on the ground floor, I rush out with the suitcase in my hands. It’s heavy, and I’m tired, but I won’t rest before this is done.

I run through the hotel, ignoring any weird looks and questions I get. I slip out when the bell boy isn’t looking and make my way across the long grass. There’s a forest far beyond. I know because my father always stays at this exact hotel, and I knew he’d bring us here again.

It’s the only reason I agreed to do this. The only reason I came up with this crazy plan.

My feet sting with every step, but I keep walking, beyond the trees, until I’m right in the middle of a clearing.

There, I place the suitcase.

I sigh out loud, staring at it for a few seconds.

Then I turn around and run.

My lungs fill with oxygen, but my heart and head hurt. It’s the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make, but I have to make it. I have no other choice.

She’ll never be safe with us, in that hotel, near my father … near me.

She has to be on her own.

Alone … in the dark …

Where no one knows her name.

Tears fill my eyes as I run back into the hotel without a trunk, sneaking past the staff so they don’t notice I’ve come back without luggage. I rush up the stairs, forgoing the elevator, quickly rushing into my room and shutting the door behind me so I can gaze out the window.

And I wait.

I wait … a long, long time …

Until the little girl appears.

Hands and face covered in dirt, hair filled with twigs.

And a heart shattered into bits.

I force myself to witness every ounce of her grief. Every single tear she sheds in fear. Even as she runs off, through the grass and onto the pavement, I pray she doesn’t come back into the hotel.

“Run, little girl … run,” I whisper, placing a hand on the glass.

And as she enters a tiny bar to the side of the road, I shed a few tears. Because I know I caused the misery she’s about to endure … all for the sake of temporary freedom.

That little girl is all by herself, out in the cold, lonely world, without a mother … without a family.

My fingers curl up into a fist.

It’s better that way.

The Family doesn’t treat girls like her nicely.

The Family only has rules.

And those rules are to be obeyed.

Even if they end in pain, hardship, cruelty… and ruin.