Take a Hint

The dripping of a leaky pipe wakes me up from my position on a pile of rubbish. My lungs feel as if they’re on fire and my back feels broken. My skull aches and pounds as I threaten to fall into a subconscious again.

I sit up and look around through squinted eyes. I had almost forgotten about my escape yesterday. I'm glad he at least didn't find me during the night of sleep.

With the dim light of the rising sun, it seems to be early in the autumn morning. My anxiety already begins to awake as I gradually stand. I frown when I look at the pink hoodie and find stains all over it. 

I sigh and brush some small crud off me as I walk down the alleyway. My stomach growls signaling how hungry I truly am. I don't even have money on me either…

Thoughts stumble into my foggy mind lurking over the idea of just stealing. I'll have to because I don't have shit for anything. I could get myself food that way, I'll hide behind my hoodie and stuff things in it. It'll hide my face and what I take in the process. 

Though my stomach churns as anxiety bites at my insides. My stomach lets out a grumble as I begin to make my way down the sidewalks of Puerto Rico. I pull the hood over my head and look around constantly. My nervousness eating at my very body.

Yet my mind wanders off to the mental image of the dismembered body on the news. I bristle with fear and stiffen. Would Damien do something like that to me? My thoughts scream as I make my way to a store walking in behind a group of others. I stalk back to the isles of food making sure to check anything everything. I pull things off the shelves looking for cameras and managing to find a blindside to stuff the items away. 

I grab a bottle of water and shove it away along with the food. Hastily yet as to not cause suspicion I quickly leave the building yet before I can leave a packet of Skittles falls to the floor from my shirt. The store owner notices as he yells. My eyes widen as I take off in a sprint, the store owner chasing after me as I continue to run holding the items so they don't fall in the process.

I look behind me to notice he's gaining on me as I run even faster. My breaths are labored as I run harshly, my feet hitting the concrete ground. With one more look, I realize he's no longer behind me as I let out a sigh and go crashing into another person. I fall to the ground, my items scattering as the hot coffee that was once in the woman's hand, is now all over my soft pink hoodie.

"I'm so sorry ma'am!" I yell with remorse, she glares daggers at me. "You damn boy! Get the hell out of here!" She screeches at me like a damned banshee. I quickly pick up my items, the coffee burning me as I rush off now watching where I'm going. My anxiety sits on the edge, my labored breaths signaling an oncoming panic attack.

I spot a park and slow to a casual walk as I make my way over to it. I try to calm myself, my mind though proving it to be increasingly hard. I've run away, stole items, and made a fool of myself in less than a full 24 hours. I manage to sit at a bench and unload my items. With anxiety eating at my stomach I begin to nibble on my food items to stop the pain in my gut. 

The food is comforting to my hunger-pained stomach as I sigh in content. Drinking down some water to quench my thirst. I stuff the remaining foods away into my stain-covered hood. I look about the park spotting little kids running about happily with their parents. Some elderly people walk their dogs before it gets too hot today. 

Though out of nowhere, a huge Doberman appears. Its black fur with variants of browns is covered in dirt and grime, obviously a stray. It looks almost fluffy under the disgusting muck on their body. The dog spots me and bounds over happily, my fear escalates. It then dissipates once I realize how loving the pup is. I smile happily and pet the dog on its head.

"Hi, buddy.." I pet the grimy dog and stand from my spot. "You can follow me if you want, puppy." I smile happily as it follows along after me, its tail wagging. Its warm bright eyes watch me as I hand it a piece of my remaining food. 

I suppose now I have a friend on my ventures. Maybe I can even get the dog to protect me, wait what’s its gender? It’s a girl, I wonder what I should name her… I pet her head as I think, maybe I can take her to the beach and get her washed up. I need to get washed up as well but I’ll have to do that later in the night. 

Life is going to be hell from now on, stealing, taking baths in the ocean, barely living. At least I’m free. Though this will be the first time I spend my birthday alone, at least I’ll have this girl beside me. I look down at the dog and she gleefully looks back up at me. “Hi girl, I’ll get you a name soon enough, you just wait!” 

I take off in a happy sprint, the dog barking and running after me in excitement. I laugh cheerfully, so glad to be free from Damien. Yet my heart longs for him, missing his presence, don’t forget his musky smell of cinnamon and the forest. Stumbling off in a drunken stupor my excitement drains as I look down at the muddy dog. 

It's just us against the world now, we don't need him. I especially don't! I grit my teeth and hold my head higher as the dog paws after me. I pause and look down at her. She looks back up at me, cocking her head to the side. "I'll call you Venus, I hope that's alright with you girl?" She wags her tail as I giggle and usher us off. I just wish to live in peace…

"Alexander!" I turn to spot Anthony rushing after me causing me to break into a sprint of my own. The world travels by me at incredible speeds as Venus races to stay alongside me. I spare a glance behind me having lost the pudgy man. I slow sparingly as I breathe out a sigh of relief. 

Fucking leave me alone you assholes. Get the hint!