Prompt
It’s time for me to leave this place, without telling anyone where I’m
going, or even that I’m going. It’s for my family’s benefit if I just sneak
away, and start fresh with a new life somewhere else.
Botner
I don’t want anyone to know what’s happened or why I’m leaving. Just leave
quietly, under the cover of night, just like we always did in the old days
when things were quieter. But I know that will never happen. I’m just one of
the lucky ones. Yesterday, I gave my two weeks’ notice at work. Two weeks.
As in, I’m leaving after two weeks. Just like that. And I was going to leave
it there, but the truth of it is that I have nothing else to say about it.
My mind is blank, and the thoughts that have been swirling around in there
since I decided to leave, now seem to have no connections to each other or
the outside world. I can’t think of what to do next, or how to move forward.
I feel adrift, rudderless. I didn’t expect this. I didn’t think it was even
possible. When I was working at my old job, I was the king of my domain,
working late hours every single day, dealing with my job and then coming
home and being the king of my domain, too. Sometimes, I felt like there was
no...
Conclusion
..escape, because I had so many responsibilities. I now realize that the
only thing holding me back from the life I want was always myself. I thought
that my father needed me after his second wife died, but that was two years
ago, and he’s already found himself someone new. I thought my brother needed
help with the baby, but they have a nanny, and I’m just the fun uncle. I
have to go, and find out who I am when I’m not defined by the people I grew
up with. Everything is packed, everyone is asleep, and I’m ready to go. I
carefully carry my heavy suitcase down the stairs, careful to not make any
noise. I drop it once, but don’t hear any movement from upstairs, so I’m
still safe. I get to my front door—well, I suppose it’s not mine anymore, is
it?—and swing the suitcase over to get through first. It nearly collides
with someone standing on the porch. She looks scared, as if this were her
house, and I was the one intruding. I just stare at her a moment, not
knowing what she could possibly be doing here so late at night. Selling
cookies? It takes me a long time to realize that I recognize her. She was a
temp at work that I spent the night with a few months ago. I thought we had
an understanding, that it was a one time thing. I don’t even ask her how she
found me, or what she’s doing here. If she wants to talk to me, she can
speak first, so I just wait patiently. Finally, she works up the courage.
“I’m pregnant.” Well...I did ask for a fresh new life, didn’t I?
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