Chapter 20 — Nobody Escapes

Sarah ran blindly. She had to get away from that place.

When her eyes were too full of tears to see where she was heading, she slumped down against a wall, hugging her knees to her chest, and sobbed uncontrollably.

Why? What had she done? Her mother told she loved her and understood? Was she just doing it to hurt her? Was it all a big joke? Was everyone just… humouring her?

She had expected so much… she had let her guard down at the false acceptance and this is how they paid her back…

Sarah lifted her head from her knees sighing deeply. Running her hand through her hair she looked around her:

She didn’t recognise the neighbourhood. She was sitting in the dust in an alley between houses. She couldn’t be far from home, but these houses all looked the same, and she had no idea how far she had run. At that moment in time, she really didn’t care either.

Dragging herself to her feet she looked both ways down the alley she was in before heading off down the alley towards the nearest street.

Stepping out onto the pavement, Sarah recognised the street. She used to walk it every day to school; it was about three quarters of a mile from her parents’ home.

Sarah didn’t know if she was ready to face things yet; she knew she would have to at some point, but couldn’t quite bring herself to try just now.

Turning, she slowly traced her invisible footsteps from years passed towards her old school. Why, she didn’t know. Perhaps something about the old place drew her to it. It had been an important part of her life. By no means a happy part, but regardless, it was why she had remained in the army after her conscription…

Nothing much along the way had changed. The same shops, the same houses… even the group of old men by the park were still there.

As she neared the gates, she stopped by the chain link fence. Staring across the yard, the buildings looked sad and dark. Memories came flooding back to her as she gripped the fence tightly; the bullying, the pain, the ostracism… Why had she come here? This was not a happy place; not for her.

High school was never easy for anyone, she knew that, but her time had been especially traumatic. Sarah had known that she wasn’t like the other boys when she was little, and by the time she reached high school, that feeling was overpowering.

All she had wanted was to be like the other girls…. Wear her hair in pretty styles… wear the cute dresses like the other girls… It was not to be…

The boys always picked on David, he was smaller, and weaker, and he wasn’t quite what they saw as normal. He had tried to fit in; to be one of the boys, but he always made some social faux pas that rewarded him with further ridicule. Ari had been the only reason she had survived that hell hole. If He hadn’t been her friend, and ally, she doubted she would have made it out alive. Ari had taken flack for being her friend, had lost his own social standing and friends by befriending David and standing with him against the bullies.

She owed that man so much…

She had to come though... They had come through… That chapter of her life had needed closure. She knew now she had survived it, she was a better person. It made her smile to think of what they would say about her now… She turned away from the buildings and left that chapter in her past.

After a short while, she had reached the centre of town. She hadn’t intended to come here, but her feet had carried her at their own desire.
Rummaging in her jeans pockets, she found some cash, but nothing else. Why did running away always mean being unprepared?

Sarah aimlessly traversed the shopping streets, occasionally stopping and glancing in a window. As much as she wanted to go in and try an outfit on, she didn’t feel in the mood for shopping.

Finally ending up in the main square, Sarah stopped, looking around her for some excuse not to return home… On the far side, she spotted an open air café. She was really missing that coffee she ran out on…

Sitting down at a table, she caught the attention of a passing waitress and ordered herself a new cup of coffee.

It was a gorgeous morning, and the square was full of shoppers. Sarah reverted to her childhood pastime of people watching; somehow observing the bustle and stress relaxed her.

What had she said? Done? Why had her mother thought she was doing this just to feel less guilty for loving Ari? Didn’t she explain that he came after? That she had felt like this always?

Her train of thought was broken by the arrival of her coffee. Slowly sipping the hot liquid she sighed and stared off into space.

“Hi, can I sit here?”

Sarah looked up to see a young man in military uniform standing above her, then past him to the group of soldiers he was clearly with by another table. A part of her danced that they thought her worthy of a bet, but another deeper part felt annoyed.

“Sure.” She smiled sweetly as the young Private took a seat opposite her. “So you’re a soldier.” She stated matter of factly sipping her coffee.

The young man nodded. “Uhuh, me and my squad are on leave, we’re with the commandos.”

Smirking inwardly, Sarah decided she could use cheering up. “Ohh, that’s awesome,” she bubbled. “Isn’t it very dangerous? You must be so brave.” She smiled placing her hand on his.

“What’s your name?” the young private grinned.

“I’m Sarah, what’s yours?” She purred.

“Michael.” He replied. “You from around here?”

“Uhuh.” Sarah smiled. “I live just out of town.” She replied, maintaining her purposeful vagueness.

The private smiled at her. She could tell instantly he wasn’t Special Forces... He just didn’t have the look… Besides … having an mechanic’s insignia on his uniform didn’t help his case.

“So what do you do?” he pressed.

“Oh I’m in the army too,” she grinned.

Michael looked momentarily worried before repairing his grin. “Clerk? Technician?” he asked casually.

“Sayeret.” Smirked Sarah. “I’m a sniper.” She purred into his ear as she dropped a bill on the table and made her way to the exit to the café. “Lovely meeting you, Michael,” she replied cheerily. Loud enough for his friends to overhear, “I’ll give you a call if we need any ‘commando’ mechanics,” she finished before walking out of the café.

As she walked across the square, she could hear the raucous laughter of the private’s friends. She felt sorry for him in a way, but it was his own silly fault for lying and thinking she would be impressed by his macho bullshit.

Her mother still pressed on her mind, but after her coffee and morning ‘exercise’, she felt almost ready to face some of her family. Walking over to a payphone, she slipped a few coins into the slot and dialled her sister’s cell number.