Escapism

My eyes were heavy when I opened them. I had cried myself to sleep on the floor at the foot of the door. I rose to my feet and opened the door. It was a bit dark as I shambled through the hallway to my room. I was glad that I did not bump into anyone. The hall had suddenly become crowded in the last few days. I twisted the knob of my door and entered before locking it shut behind me. My eyes landed on Darcy and I felt like tearing up again. I had never gone a day without putting my little princess to bed, but today I failed to do so. I got into bed, still dressed in my jeans, and I laid beside her.

"I'm so sorry, princess." I whispered, "Mommy will never leave you by yourself."

My fingers caressed her hair. I hadn't made it into a plait as I usually do every night before bed, "I will never leave your side, my love."

My mind went to her father and the terrible thing he had done to me. There was something building inside of me. That thing was resentment. It was the same way I felt when I found out that Derrick Hudson cheated on me. What had I done then? I had run away. And I felt like doing the same thing right now. I needed to run away from this place. I needed to get as far away as I could- From Damien Jaeger!
~

"Raise and shine, baby girl." I said

"Mommy!" Darcy exclaimed happily as she saw me. She wrapped her arms around my neck and I lowered my face to give her a kiss.

"Where were you, Mommy?"

"Mommy had to go prepare a surprise for you. And now, the surprise is ready." I lied. My words couldn't have made her happier. She had learnt to love surprises because I always said I had a surprise for her whenever I got her a toy.

"But to get this surprise, we're going to have to step out for it. Does Darcy want the surprise?"

"Yes!" She replied eagerly and got down from the bed to search for her gift, "Where is it, Mommy?"

"Come, we will take a bath first." I chuckled and dragged her into the closet.
~

Darcy and I casually arrived at the breakfast table. Everyone was already there; Damien Jaeger, Ella and her daughter, Anna, and Natalie and a little girl of about the same age as Darcy who looked very much like her. I had been reluctant to get down for breakfast as I was already planning to leave the house. However, I thought it better than to drag unnecessary concerns and attention from people who didn't care about me. I wasn't going to wallow in self pity in my room. I was going to get the heck out of here!

"Mélie, are you okay?" It was Natalie who had asked this question.

"What?" I wore a confused look on my face, "I'm fine."

"Your eyes- They look a bit swollen." She said and immediately, all eyes fell on me. I lowered them in shame. So it was so obvious? I hope it wasn't obvious that I had cried all night as well.

"It's nothing. I'm fine." I said. Ella mumbled under her breath and we all resumed our meal. Occasionally, I would look at Damien Jaeger with side-eyes, trying to see if his face held any form of remorse or concern for me but his face was blank. It was good. I wasn't going to back out of my plan because I was running away from the devil.

After breakfast, we all dispersed from the hall and I headed back upstairs to grab my car keys and my large handbag. A few clothes were already tossed into it as I had decided not to carry any other luggage along so as not to raise any form of suspicion. After grabbing what I had come upstairs for, we returned downstairs and made our way to the front door. I looked around as I walked, making sure there was no one in sight. If I was sighted by Damien Jaeger, I only had to say I was grabbing a toy for Darcy or that we were going to the central park because today was a Sunday and Darcy didn't have to go to school.

Out of the gates at last, I let out a victorious cry as I drove further away from the mansion. Farewell mansion. I had only loved you for a short time!

At first, I thought of driving to my house but I quickly changed my mind when I remembered that Damien Jaeger knew my house. 'But he couldn't have known Trisha's house 4 hours away, in Blue county, could he?' I thought and made a turn towards the direction of the highway.

"Mommy, Where are we going?" Darcy asked.

"To see Aunty Trisha." "You miss her, don't you?" I asked when I saw the excitement on her face.

"Yes mommy."

"That's why I'm taking you to see her, princess. And we'll stay there for as long as you want." I said, before turning my attention on the highway I was driving into. I drove for a few more hours before finally arriving at Blue County. The area here looked very welcoming and peaceful, lacking the hussle and bussle of the big city. I drove slowly through the neighbourhood, trying to locate the house with the number 'A59' on its fence. That was Trisha's house. I had not informed her about my arrival though but I really hoped she would be home.

Eventually, I sighted house A59 and my car came to a stop in front of it. It was a simple bungalow, and unlike most of the other buildings which resembled it, it was decorated with green plants. This was definitely Trisha's house because she was obsessed with plants.

We alighted from the car and I pushed the gate open. The house seemed empty. Still, I took my chance and placed a knock on the door. A few seconds later, the door opened and I saw Trisha, standing in front of me with her hair haywire. She was still dressed in her pyjamas but looked like she had been awake for a few hours.

Her lips curled into a smile, "Mélie! Oh my goodness, you didn't tell me you were coming!" She beamed with excitement and jumped on me, wrapping me into an embrace.

I mumbled an "I wanted it to be a surprise" into her neck as she suffocated me with her embrace. Eventually, she let go off me.

"Hello, aunty!" Trisha lowered herself to the little birdie who had just greeted her and swept the birdie off of her feet. Darcy broke into laughter.

"How is my favourite baby girl doing? Is she okay?" She asked Darcy as she entered into the house with me following behind her.