Chapter 1
Savannah -
I never used to mind coming to the bars. I always found some way to make fun when I had my girls with me but coming here with Boyce was just chaotic. He’d always pick a fight or end up thrown out no matter where we went. Everyone back home knew his name so that’s why we left. Deciding to just pack a bag and hit the road. So tonight, here we had landed in Taylor. We’d come from Austin, traveled through Manor and Hutto before ending up here. It was a beautiful town and screamed history everywhere you looked. If I’m honest, I’d much rather be out exploring and soaking up the view, rather than be sitting here in this dusty corner of a bar while watching Boyce leaning over a pool table, attempting to line up an impossible shot and claim back the $200 he bet on the table. His dirty blonde hair flops forward over his brows and his lips purse to blow it up away from his lashes.
I drink down the remainder of my diet coke and set the empty glass down onto the bar while I watch on from afar as Boyce misses the shot.
“Fuck!”
I wince as he steps back to watch his opponent line up a now perfect shot and sink the 8 ball into the top right pocket.
“It’s a been a pleasure.” The stranger snorts and snatches up the 200 off the table. As I expected, Boyce launches the pool cue across the room with enough force that it cracks against the wall.
“Fuck you.” He spits. Quite literally spits in the guys face. The stranger quickly rears back his right arm before clocking Boyce in the jaw. I launch myself off my stool quickly, snatching my purse off the bar and quickly jogging over to Boyce having seen the door security start moving through the crowd towards the disruption.
“We need to go!” I shout and snatch his pulled up arm to quickly yank him out of the back door but it’s not without a fight.
“Get off me!” He shout’s and shoves me just enough that I stumble down the two steps, almost twisting my ankle as I land on the dirt. “Who the fuck do you think you are?!”
“Boyce.” I sigh and hold my hands up calmly.
“For fuck sake Van! I had him where I wanted him!” He shouts again and stumbles a little to the side catching himself with a hand on the wall. God I hate when he drinks almost as much as when he calls me ‘Van’.
“Boyce… you lost… security was about to throw you out…” His bright glassy blue eyes flare at my comment. I sigh and walk towards him. Pressing my hands against his chest calmly. “Lets just go… we’ll head to the next town, maybe you’ll have better luck there.” I say as lightly as I can but apparently not lightly enough.
“Luck? I don’t need any fucking luck!” He shoves me back hard in the chest. “This is your fault! It’s because you’re here!” He spits. “You’re a fucking curse to me!” He shoves me again.
“Hey, fuck you! I just stopped you getting beaten to a pulp by a guy twice your size!” I shout but instantly regret it when a backhanded slap strikes me across my face. A part of me didn’t expect it. Another part of me should have known better than to open my mouth. That point is only driven in harder when I’m sent to the floor from the force, my head bouncing as it hits the ground.
“You can fucking stay here until I say I’m done!” He shouts directly into my face with a fistful of my hair before letting my head drop into the dust and storming off back inside.
At the sound of the door slamming shut, I slowly curl my arms under me and push myself off the dirt before inhaling too much of it and sit onto the bones of my cheeks with my legs still sprawled out in front of me. I cough up past the dryness in my throat and spit aside the blood from my lip. Lifting a finger and probing at it gently.
Should have kept my mouth shut. Damn my fucking uncontrollable tongue.
I roll my eyes and hoist myself up from the ground, scouting out the area to be sure my humiliation was not witnessed by anyone. Snatching my purse off the floor and fishing around inside it, I find my compact and flick it open.
The sun is setting so the beautiful orange glow of golden hour is upon us but it does little to help my current appearance. Using the inside of my tatty old band tshirt, I’m thankful it’s black so I can dab away the blood from my lip. Turning my head, I check my eye, already swelling up right on the socket where it hit the ground. Perfect. Shuffling towards the outer wall of the bar, I lean my back into it and stare off at the sunset.
You’re probably wondering why I stay? Honestly, I’m questioning it more and more. I thought getting out of town would help, that the change of scenery may change him. I guess I was wrong. I snort out a humourless laugh at my own thoughts.
Yes. Very wrong I was.
This town is so quiet, aside from the distant music thumping from the jukebox inside, it’s peaceful. My head is throbbing and my lip stings, no doubt there’s dirt in the cut that’s going to need treating. Looking to my side at the door, I sigh and push off the wall. He won’t be back anytime soon so I might as well see if I can find some kind of drugstore. I keep my hair swooped forward over my shoulders to shield my face as I stroll through the town. I only pass three people as I walk and take in the sights around me. It really is a lovely town.
I peak through the strands of my hair, spotting an illuminated sign for a drugstore and beeline for it.
Thankfully, the cashier seemed to care little for my appearance as I bought myself a pack of alcohol wipes to disinfect my lip. Standing in the small alley between the store and it’s neighbour, I rip open one of the wipes, pulling out my mirror again and thoroughly cleaning the cut. Once done, I tuck it all back into my bag and re-emerge on the street. Looking back towards the bar someways down, I go to start walking but I can’t move.
What am I doing? Why am I going back? He wouldn’t even notice if I was gone so why am I even thinking of going back?
2 years, this has been my life. Boyce drinks too much, he’ll fight and I get the blame for trying to save him.
I turn away, looking back towards the sunset as my limbs unlock and I start walking towards it. Hoisting my small duffel bag up higher on my shoulder, I just walk, letting my feet lead the way and following the gorgeous light as it burns up on the dusty, sandy dirt ahead of me. With each second that passes, I feel the weight of my life lifting off my shoulders, my body becoming lighter until I feel like I might just be able to breathe again. Tears tingle in my throat and burn my dry eyes. Not from the loss of someone who could never truly love me but for the freedom I’ve been missing. I forgot what this felt like. The way freedom tastes on your tongue and the endless possibilities suddenly coming into view. I smile through the tears, each step getting stronger and firmer. I have $30 to my name but that’s not stopping me. I’m not stopping me anymore.
As I reach the deserted highway, I just keep walking.
