1000 Miles Away Is Better

Clair’s POV

  My thighs hurt, making the fresh memories of his wild touches feel so vivid, the way he’d spread my legs apart and drive roughly into me had been both terrifying and satisfying. But I hate him, and maybe if only I could throw his money back at him at that moment, the tone whispering how shameless I have been, holding him tight as he moved inside of me, how shamelessly I have hoped he wouldn’t stop nuzzling my neckline with his skillful lips and the way I had clung to him and beg him not to stop, totally ignoring he’s a stranger giving me a price for my first time.

  “It’s all over now mum, you will live, I promise.” 

  I murmured as I twisted the knob into our apartment. It was so dark there and the rays of sunlight that comes in through the blinds sent a strange message across my whole body. The underground club has been like this too. The only difference is that my house doesn’t have any red lights flickering through the walls.

  “Dr said she sent the surgery money. “

  The voice came and, although I knew who exactly was speaking, I halted, a bit shocked my stepmom could be so concerned about my mum after acting so nonchalant from the beginning.

  “She must’ve engaged in a terrible deal. Where will that useless girl get that large sum of money from?"

  Her daughter, Abigail Chen, remarked, and my heart sank. She was right,", but my mother is worth more after all.

  I chose to ignore their spiteful words and proceeded into the room that used to belong to my mum, all mum's jewelry had disappeared since stepmom took over and so are her favorite clothes.

  “We just have to wait until she renews the rent as she had promised, then we can bring out her secrets.” 

  My stepmother avowed, with their words cutting right into my chest, I still proceeded into the room, and immediately they turned around and saw me, their rebuking, spiteful eyes were replaced with a warm, welcoming look, and I ached to feel the genuineness.

  “Oh my poor baby girl. “

  Stepmother cried softly, taking me into her arms. It felt so warm but absurd, and I immediately pushed away, smiling rather awkwardly than I meant to.

  “My mum has been so worried about your mum, Clair, she couldn’t even eat.”

  Abigail said, gently patting her mum on the chest.

  “She’s going to be okay. “

  She said as if she truly meant it, but I nodded anyway, knowing it was almost 7 pm and dad would be home soon, probably causing a mess as usual.

  “I’m going to go see her now, thank you. “

  I said, turning around to leave, but a hand touched me and my wary eyes stared into my stepmother’s cunning face.

  “My sweet girl, you should renew the rent before the month runs out, you promised after all. “

  With a forced smile plastered across her lips, she muttered, and I nodded, handing her cash from my pocket, and immediately she let go of my hands, her eyes ogling on the twenty thousand dollar notes .

  “You’ve stolen my money, you bastard.”

  Before I could prepare for anything, Dad's large palm collided with my cheeks and the pain spread across my already broken and tired heart. I glared at his messy body, his bad breath reeking of alcohol, and the sharp scent of blood mixed with sand hit my nostrils and, without any unsure feeling, I banged out of the room, settling my back against the front door.

  “Wayward People, like father, like daughter “

  The condemning tone of my stepmother hit me harder, and I sobbed, yelling as I sprang out of the haunting street and the fresh natural liquid fell on my face, and at that instant, I knew I must leave. 

  The whole of LA.

  “I miss you grandma. “

  I muffled as I ran up the stairs to my best friend's room, Hana East, my second favorite person in the world. She has always helped with aligning my messy life. She was the person who had linked me up with George, and I was able to make the money for my mom's surgery and still have enough for her upkeep.

  My grandmother, who has lived all her life in Arkansas, had urged my mom to come home with her when dad's lifestyle became so unbearable, but mum, hoping for the impossible, didn’t listen, until grandma was no more and the scary event that took her legs happened. But now is the time, once she’s well, we leave for Arkansas.

  “Hana, I need y…”

  My eyes went hazy and cloudy, and my voice hitched as I lazily stared at my best friend making out with my boyfriend, David Bradford, the only person I have taken to liking ever since Hana matchmade us, but we ended up having a little misunderstanding right after mum's accident.

  “ Ho… How could y…”

  I forced out, fighting the urge to give in into the darkness that has threatened to evolve my being.

  “Oh Clair “

  Hana said raising her hand to shut David up.

  “What,?you know I love David, we always talk about it “

  “ David wants more and you aren’t it “

  She said fiercely, settling into the sofa that has been their space before barging in on them.

  “Used to think you are really innocent until you accept to be layed for a price”

  David bursted out angrily and my eyes went absolutely blank, my lips trembled and my feets won’t budge .

  “ You told him everything? I trusted you Hana “

  I forced out and her repression was only neutral as she glared back at me.

  “He works there and he brought the idea in the first place “

  Hana said pulling David closer and they kissed, I know I have no one else to call mine anymore, I have never had anyone, they are mites ready to eat right into my flesh.

  “You’re lucky anyway, who would have thought he will pick you “

  I heard lastly before I shut the door.

  The rain was still dropping slowly and the road seem sloppy , and I felt like rolling down into the cold floor, and getting hit by the rain.

  But instead I swiped into my phone and searched for the best airline ticket to Arkansas.