Sage parked in the media center parking lot and I exited. For the entire ride, we were silent, Maya and Brody stayed at the school to cover for us as we skipped the rest of the day. The tall, two story building, which was made entirely out of red brick, being as it was made in main street in the early 1900s. I believe it was once a hotel of some sort, until they had to refurbish the inside when it had caved in. Now, it is the town's Media Center where one half was for electronics and the other a library.

I smiled at the cashier, Diana, whose normal long graying-brown hair was in a braid. The laugh lines along her vibrant green eyes, made her seem welcoming. I wave to her before walking over to one of the computers and logging in to my profile. Each person who has a membership (which costs only a dollar per person, who would have thought?) can create their own account using their member card. Which means, if you lose it, you better have your number code memorized.

Looking through the data files, I find my recent project and open it up, skimming through the video footage to find where I left off. Sage must have wandered into the reading section, because she never once interrupted me.

Finishing up the last bits and pieces of the video, I grab my thumb drive out of my purse and start to download it. As the screen started to count how many seconds until it finished, I passed the time by listening to the radio on my phone. But then my phone started to go off, with messages from my dad: the messages I couldn't handle anymore. The things like 'you are worthless,' or 'I wish you were never even born.'

I wondered how my father could possibly be so heartless to say these things to his own child. Sage walks over as I'm reading the messages over and over; I shouldn't be doing this, I shouldn't be reading this.

“Hey, so you want to come over to my grandma's?” Sage suggests, as I move my gaze from my phone and to my computer screen. “I’m sure she wouldn't mind a visit.”

“Sure,” I reply, forcing a smile and unhooking the USB drive from the computer after it downloaded, “I love your Grandma.”

Sage smiles and we exit the building towards her car. Sage’s grandma, Maple lived only ten minutes away on a large farm. One of the biggest farms in the county of Fairhaven. I used to go there every weekend with Sage. I felt more at home there.

I knew my aunt was oblivious to my home life, because every time she came to visit, my parents made sure we were the perfect family she thought we were. I would wear long sleeve shirts to hide the bruises along my arms, and the cuts my parents inflicted. Sometimes I wished I had enough courage to stand up to them, but that will most likely not happen.

We pulled up the long drive towards Grandma Maples farmhouse; cows, horses, and chickens lined the pastures in their individual pins. Cornstalks grow at the back of the house, and the smell of earth hits us both as we park out front. Grandma Maple, whose graying hair was stuck in a straw hat, I notice she is wearing her usual attire: she wore a shirt and a pair of torn jeans. I noticed that her shot gun lay against the siding of her farmhouse, ready to be used if any trespassers (including coyotes) came through.

She smiled at us both as we walked towards her. Treating us both with a hug and a kiss on the cheek before we made our way inside, and out of the hot sun. I knew that soon, the weather would change and with a snap of my fingers, it would be storming. I don't think I'll ever understand Missouri weather.

Sage's grandma is a strong-willed woman, and after knowing her for years, I knew I couldn't keep anything from her. But I knew, that if I got my secret out, it would be the end, not just of the abuse, but of my life. Because I wouldn't have any choice. Maybe that's what scares me the most, maybe not even my parents.

“What's troubling you dear?” Grandma Maple inquires, as she wanders into the kitchen to grab something, “Alana?”

“Yes?” I ask, dreading to answer her question.

“She's just not feeling well.” Sage answers for me, clearly understanding my uneasiness.

“Sage Marie, did I ask you the question? No, I didn't. Alana,” She turned to look at me, “You know you can tell me anything, no matter what it is. Your burden won't hurt me.”

“I know.” I whispered, “And I'm fine.”

She raised an eyebrow at me, clearly knowing I was lying to her face but quickly dropped my comment. Knowing that when I was ready, I would talk about whatever it was that was bothering me. I sure hope I never have to talk about it.

“Do you want something to eat?” She asks, looking from me to Sage and back again. I shake my head but Sage gets a cookie for me anyways off the plate Grandma Maple set down.

“We just wanted to visit Grandma.” Safe stated, moving over into the living room to sit on the couch.

“By visiting, you mean you had to skip school in the process.” Sage was speechless, and I looked anywhere but Grandma Maple's face.

“Don't worry you two, I'm sure you had a perfectly good reason.”

Grandma Maple pats us both on the cheek before leaving a plate of cookies on the coffee table. I walk slowly towards the plate, and plopped down next to Sage. The house was silent, and I didn't know what to say. But the silence was broken when someone barged into the house and Grandma Maple began scolding the intruder.

I turned, and soon regretted it when I saw my father struggling to stand (most likely from the amount of alcohol he has consumed in the last week). Luckily, he was turned away or I would be in deep trouble. I felt my heart jump and I turned away, trying to act as casual as ever. I hopped he didn't recognize Sage’s car, or us, because I didn't want either of us getting in trouble.

“Oh, how I hope I can get out of this alive.” I tapped Sages shoulder, and mouthed to her that we needed to leave. Sage wrote a quick note and stuck it in the edge of the coffee table. We quickly snuck out the back and ran towards Sage's vehicle to escape from our demise.

***

It was quiet once again in Sage’s vehicle. My mind began to wonder about the trip my friends and aunt was making my go on. I wondered why they thought this was a good idea for me. Sure, I've been stressed lately, and yeah, maybe I did need a vacation, but weren't they supposed to talk to me about it?

Then I wondered why my father was at Grandma Maple’s. Maybe he was drunk and wandered there on accident. Or worse, maybe he knew I was there but wasn't sober enough to realize he did. I hope it was an accident and not on purpose.

“Sage?” I find myself saying, what was I even asking?

“Yeah?”

“Why do you guys think I need to go to Georgia?” I felt my lips move and my voice come out, but I had no consciousness of what I was actually saying, or why I was saying it in the first place.

“Well, it's really not idle for you to go with us to the coast,” She giggled, “But, I feel like, you've not been yourself, and maybe you need a break from here.”

I nod, she gets it. I hope they don't break me when the week is over. One can only hope, but sometimes it doesn't always work out that way.