When I was sixteen years old, I decided I wanted to run away from home . My parents were making me crazy and I couldn’t focus on school or anything else with all their arguing and drama. So, when summer came, I snuck out of the house in the middle of the night with my pink and purple backpack filled with clothes, my hairbrush, makeup, a couple of bras and some of my panties. I also snuck the $500 emergency cash from its hiding place which was in an envelope taped to the back of an oil painting. I was quiet when I left and honestly, I was sure that they would be thrilled about having a break from me, the burden.

I walked out of the general neighborhood and walked toward the highway and then I stood near the entrance of the highway and stuck out my thumb. I was no fool, so I had worn a tight t-shirt, a jean jacket and a black mini-skirt. I was also pretty made up and I knew it would make things easy in getting a ride, not that it would be hard for a sixteen year old girl like me to get a ride anyway.

And within a few minutes, a van pulled over and offered me a lift. I looked in and it was a man in his mid-40’s and from what I could see he appeared to have dark hair with some grey and he looked like he would be on the tall side. “Need a lift?” he asked me, grinning.

“Yes, I want to get out of here.”

“Well then get in!”

So, I opened the passenger door and climbed inside and closed the door.