I PULLED INTO our local grocery store, finding a parking spot between two parked cars, hoping my silver SUV would blend in with all the other vehicles in the lot. I glanced around in all directions, paranoia creeping over me, thoughts of Aaron following me almost causing me to nix my plan. But I couldn’t do it. I had to make this move. My love for my daughter outweighed the fear. She didn’t deserve to witness the life she had had thus far. And it wouldn’t be long before those memories would stick with her. Right now, she was just a baby, and her memory would allow her to forget. But I knew that wouldn’t always be the case.
So, it was time.
“You ready, baby?” I whispered to Gracie, and jerked the driver’s side door open, pulling her car seat out in a flash, glancing in all directions once more as my feet shuffled quickly inside. I looked at the cashiers who were checking out customers and then over at the customer service desk, hoping the usual work schedules were still on target this morning.
When I spotted her long red locks, a sigh of relief escaped my lips and I moved quickly to where she stood, bent over the counter, counting the money in the register.
“Cameron?” My voice held a rasp as I waited for her response, worried that this plan was impossible to pull off.
“Yeah?” She continued counting the cash, bobbing her head. I stood in silence, waiting for her to look up. She pulled her eyes away from the cash and toward mine as she shoved the money into a bank envelope.
“Oh, hey! How are ya?” She gave me a smile and walked around the counter, but the longer she held her gaze on me, her welcoming look turned to a frown.
“Are you okay?” She shook her head as her eyes focused on the bruise that my cheek wore.
“I need your help,” I whispered, before looking over my shoulder; I was finally taking her up on the offer she had given me more than once.
My lifestyle had forced me into a constant state of repetition, a certain schedule I kept, never deviating from my daily tasks. Aaron made sure he knew where I was at all times. Grocery shopping day was always on Mondays, which led to my interaction and friendship of sorts with Cameron. It started as small talk, until the first time she noticed the black eye I was wearing but had tried my hardest to cover with makeup. The words she spoke to me that cold winter morning had stuck with me, planted a seed that would soon take root.
“You don’t have to live like this. There’s always a way out.”
At the time, I brushed her comment away. But I heard it loud and clear. And a few months later, when the fingerprint bruises covered my neck, she repeated her advice and assured me that she would help me if she could.
Which led me to my current situation.
I needed help.
I needed a way out.
I needed her to mean what she said.
“Absolutely.” Her head bobbed up and down, then she bit her lip, waiting to hear what else I had to say.
“Is there somewhere we can go and talk?” I looked over my shoulder again, fear causing my body to tremble, pressing Gracie in her seat closer to my side.
“Come on.” She waved her hand and led me into what I assumed was the employee break room, which was empty, luckily. It had vending machines and aprons on hooks, with an old white refrigerator in the corner.
“You’re safe in here.” She gave me a sympathetic look, and I realized just how much I hated that. I didn’t want to be a victim. Not anymore.
“I’m leaving him. I mean, I left him. He doesn’t know yet,” I began to ramble, and my cheek began to quiver.
“Thank God,” she whispered, and pulled me into an unexpected hug. My body flinched and stiffened, not used to any type of affection.
“Sorry.” She pulled away and gave me that look once more.
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled and shook my head.
“Don’t apologize. What can I do?” She glanced down and gave Gracie the same look that she had just given me.
“I need a ride to the bus station.” My voice shook as the words left my lips, making this whole situation all the more real.
“Of course. Give me two minutes to tell my boss.” She held up two fingers and then patted my back as she darted out of the small room, with the fluorescent lights buzzing above my head. I placed the car seat on the nearest table and looked at my daughter, who was sleeping soundly.
Less than a minute later, Cameron reappeared with her keys in her hand.
“I know this is an inconvenience. I’m sorry.” I tried to give her a small smile, but my emotions wouldn’t allow it.
“Stop apologizing. I’m glad to help. I’m thankful you’re getting out of that situation. Neither of you deserve to live like that.”
She knew so much without me ever admitting anything to her. And I knew in my heart that’s why Aaron kept me in seclusion. His abuse was obvious, and he knew that.
“Thank you,” I whispered. She was an utter stranger who was going out of her way to help me. But she was all I had.
“Do you have money?” She stared as I pulled Gracie’s car seat back into the crook of my arm.
“I’ve been saving however I can.” I tried to ignore the fear of being broke and homeless; pushing it from my mind. I had a plan, and all I could do was hope it worked out. It had to. I had to take care of my daughter.
“Do you still have your debit card?”
“Yeah.” I knew I couldn’t use Aaron’s money along the way; he would track my every move and kill me. I had no doubt about that. My plan was to leave my debit card in the car.
“Then you get out every penny you can right now.” Her voice was demanding, but I knew it was with good intentions.
“You’re right.” I nodded, knowing I could use every penny I could get right now. Besides, the ATM at the grocery store wouldn’t give anything else away of my whereabouts since my car would be here anyway. I hoped my tracks would run cold at this location.
“Let’s go.” Cameron placed her arm gently on my back and led me to the ATM machine next to the customer service desk. I pulled the card from my wallet and inserted it into the machine, withdrawing $500. The maximum the account would allow.
I tried to slow my breathing, but it was a lost cause. My nerves were shot, and I was scared to death of getting caught by Aaron. A punch in the face would be nothing compared to what he would do to me if he got ahold of me now. I had to hurry.
“Did you bring anything else?” she asked, biting her bottom lip as her eyes kept glancing to my bruised cheek.
“A few things in my car,” I mumbled, swallowing the lump in my throat.
“We’ll grab your belongings from your car and load them into mine, then we’ll go.” Her voice was full of confidence that I wished I possessed.
“We have to hurry,” I pleaded, nodding my head, and moving my feet.
“Yeah, we do.” She gave me a glance as we made our way outside, the bright sunshine blurring my vision.
We had my things loaded into her backseat, along with Gracie, in record time and then hopped inside her Honda Accord, into her backseat in record time, pulling from the parking lot. I glanced in the mirror and saw my car fading into the distance.
“I can’t believe I’m finally doing this.” I looked over my shoulder and watched my daughter still sleeping peacefully.
“You’re doing the right thing,” she assured me as she kept glancing in her rearview mirror. I knew she was making sure we weren’t being followed.
“I found a women’s shelter in Texas.” I blurted out my future and realized what a turn my life was about to take.
“That’s a long way from Ohio.” She glanced over at me with a small smile, before turning her eyes back to the road.
“The further the better, I think.”
“You’re right,” she agreed.
“There’s a bus leaving in less than half an hour.” I bit the inside of my cheek once the words left my mouth.
“You’re prepared, that’s good.”
I had used Toddler Time at the local library to do my research. I was too scared that Aaron would find out my search history to use the home computer. That’s how I found the shelter and the bus schedule.
Unfortunately, that’s all I had so far. But it was enough for now.
I didn’t have a car. Or much money. Or a phone. Or a home.
But I finally had an escape route.
And I had Gracie.
And that was enough.