Page 4 of Fractured Hope
The prospect of sleeping on a park bench didn’t really faze me, since I’d done that a few times before when I’d needed to get away from a foster family, but I really didn’t know what the temperatures were like here. I’d never been this far north. And in a town this small, I doubted I could get away with sleeping on a bench unnoticed. The last thing I needed was to be arrested. That would be a surefire way for Derek to find me.
I was really glad I’d packed a change of clothes and my hoodie. Hopefully, that would be good enough for now. Otherwise, I would need to buy some warmer clothes, and soon. For that, I needed money, which meant I needed a job. I didn’t have a resumé or any notable skills. I’d never finished my college degree. The stab of regret and subsequent guilt over Derek talking me out of something I’d worked so hard for still gutted me, sometimes even more than his punches. I just had to hope someone somewhere might be willing to take a chance on me. Even if the job paid under the table, it might be enough to get by for the time being. I just needed to be prepared to interact with people again and try to find the person I was before Derek took over my life.
I was distracted from my thoughts as the guy who served me at the counter dropped off my latte and the biggest B.E.L.T. I’d ever seen. He must’ve noticed something in my expression because he chuckled.
“We make everything big here.” He smirked, flashing me a dimple as he smiled.
Was he flirting with me? No way, not possible, he was just being nice.
Feeling my cheeks heat, I smiled up at him. “Thanks, I just don’t think I’ll be able to eat it all.”
“No worries, it happens all the time. I’ll bring over a paper bag and you can wrap up the rest.”
“That’d be great thanks.”
“I’m Kay, by the way.”
“B-Bodhi.” Was using my real name a good idea? Too late now.
“It’s great to meet you Bodhi, enjoy.” He left me to my extra-large sandwich and churning thoughts. I watched him go, wishing I had half of his confidence.
As suspected, I couldn’t finish the food, so I carefully wrapped the sandwich in the bag Kay had provided and placed it in my backpack. It would be perfect for later and would help me stretch my money. With that thought in mind, I considered what else I might need for tonight and went back to the counter for a bottle of water.
There was a large decorative cake stand that caught my eye, stacked full of massive muffins in every flavor imaginable. Even though I was full, my mouth watered at the sight. What I would give for something sweet. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d even had something sweet. Derek never let me, saying it would make me fat, and he wouldn’t touch the stuff with his workout regime. Sighing, I knew I couldn’t afford one anyway. With that horrible memory fresh in my mind, I made my way outside to start exploring this little town.
At the end of Main Street, I turned the corner and spotted a park. I found a bench under a large pine tree and sat for a bit, taking in the crisp fall air and dappled sunlight through the trees. It must’ve been nearing lunchtime because the park filled up with a few people here and there. Some were having picnics. Others were spending time with young children. Some just seemed to be workers on their lunch break. As I gazed around there was a good range of ages, some families and older couples, and while everyone seemed to keep to themselves, there was stillan air of familiarity in this town, and that filled me with a sense of hope.
I hung out in the park for most of the day, wandering around getting the lay of the land. As the sun started to sink lower on the horizon, I knew I needed to find a safe place for the night. Heading back down Main Street, the lights switched off in the little boutiques and the streetlights came on. As I passed the restaurant, Elpízo, a woman with long curly brown hair flipped the sign on the door to open and waved at me. I returned the wave and smiled at her. The sight of the warm family restaurant was inviting, but I didn’t have the time or the money to go inside. My smile fell as I turned away and continued down the street.
I needed a phone at some point, but it had been so long since I’d had one. I’d gotten used to life without one. As I walked past the grocery store, peeking through the front display window at the cluttered front counter, I could see they had a variety of cables, headphones, chargers, and other technological products. I was sure they would have some cell phones. Determined to take control of my life, I decided I would come back tomorrow and buy one before starting my job search. The grocery store would probably be the best place to start anyway.
I continued back down the street toward Jolt and kept on wandering. The farther I went, the more industrial the businesses got and the larger the buildings and space around them became. I passed a car repair shop, what looked like a rundown tractor lot that had obviously closed down at some point, and a farm feed store and supplier. There wasn’t much else after that last business, so I went around the back of the buildings looking for an alcove, alley, or even a hidden doorway where I could rest for the night.
The old tractor lot was fronted by a big barnlike building with rusted holes up the side and chains over the extra-large roller doors. None of that was helpful. There was, however, a largejunkyard out back with a whole bunch of tractors, trucks, and car parts. Massive wheels were slung all over the place. Checking around to make sure the coast was clear and I wasn’t drawing anyone’s attention, I slipped down the side of the dilapidated dark red building and behind a wheel almost taller than me. I glanced around in the fading light for somewhere I could safely sleep. Moving around the six or so tires with grass, mud, and weeds growing around them, I found a rusting old pickup truck, which must’ve been dumped there at some point, since it had no wheels on its chassis. The side was leaning against a mound of sheet metal, which was also rusting and had things growing in random places.
Approaching cautiously, I peered inside. It was clean enough and in relatively good condition compared to the other things around the lot. I reached for the handle and pulled. Nothing happened. I put down my backpack and carefully tried again with two hands, yanking as hard as I could. The door gave with an almighty screech. I froze, listening carefully to see if I’d alerted anyone. When nothing happened and no one came running, I picked up my backpack and slipped inside before carefully closing the door behind me. I sat in what would’ve been the passenger seat of the truck and glanced around. There was a bench seat behind me, and while it was too short to stretch out on, it looked pretty good after the last few days.
Climbing over the console and into the back, I got settled before pulling out my sandwich and water bottle.Here’s to being free.I nibbled my slightly soggy B.E.L.T. and sipped my water. Once I’d finished, I wrapped my hoodie around myself and laid my head on my backpack on the bench seat. I was almost curled into a ball in the small space, but it was better than other places I’d slept. And this would keep me safer from the elements than an open park bench.
Looking out the cracked back window, I could almost make out the stars starting to appear in the sky through the murky glass. It was still relatively early, but after multiple nights of travel and the anxiety of my escape, my body was exhausted. I thought I would fall asleep quickly, yet my mind wouldn’t turn off. I didn’t know what would happen next, even with the beginnings of a plan. It would be an uphill battle. I continued to gaze out the window as the sky turned dark and the breeze kicked up over the creaking metal sheets. The melody of crickets chirping was the last thing I remembered before sleep finally claimed me.
After a cold and fitful night, I was jerked awake in the early hours of morning by a loud metal bang right next to me. My first thought was someone had discovered my hiding place and was here to arrest me for trespassing, but no human words followed the cacophony, only a metal creaking and scratching. I cautiously peered out the side window and saw a large hawk. It had brown feathers, a white chest, and a sharp hooked black beak. It seemed to be looking right at me from atop the metal sheeting. It shifted while a large rabbit wriggled in its talons. That must’ve been the bang that had awoken me. I was safe inside the truck’s cab, but it was disconcerting to be greeted by a bird of prey first thing in the morning. Looking out the back window, I couldn’t see much, except an early morning fog hanging close to the ground and the light of the predawn highlighting the ridge in the distance.
I cautiously stretched as much as my body would allow and took stock of my healing ribs and wrist. I was no sorer than before, so I took that as a good sign and carefully climbed outof the truck. I grabbed my backpack and made sure the coast was clear before heading toward the main road without knowing what time it was. I had no watch, phone, or convenient clock tower in sight to orient me. It was maybe around five in the morning or a little after.
When would people in this small town start to wake up? What time would the businesses open? To keep this place as a sleeping option for later I thought it was best to move on so I wasn’t caught here. I walked slowly back around the debris and broken tractors, car parts, and the building onto the main road into town.
The fog was everywhere and added a crispness to the air. My breath misted as I breathed out and my hands and nose were so cold. Quickly, I pulled my hood up, then tucked my hands under my arms to warm up. I hadn’t been anywhere this cold before. If this was early Fall, then the temperature here must get freezing and would likely be snowing before winter even hit. I needed to make sure I had a job and shelter before then or I wouldn’t survive.
I made my way down the street and was pleasantly surprised to see Jolt had lights on in the distance, beckoning me with the classic red neonopensign flickering through the mist. I was in desperate need of coffee to chase the cold out of my bones and start my day.
Screech! Thud!
My heart leaped into the back of my throat, and I just about jumped out of my skin as a mechanical door opened right next to me. It was so startling that I slipped off the sidewalk and twisted my ankle in the gutter. I let out an indignant shriek as I fell to the ground and stupidly used my bad wrist to catch myself, since my other hand was holding my backpack. As I fell, the pain lanced up my arm. I tried my best to roll with it and take the weight off my wrist and onto my shoulder, but my foot was caught in adrain grate. Excruciating spasms radiated through my foot and up into my ankle. Cursing up a storm as pain-filled tears leaked out of my eyes, I froze suddenly as I heard footsteps behind me.
“Shit! Are you okay?” a deep, masculine voice asked.
Before I could catch my breath and respond, a large man appeared in front of me. He crouched down and looked me over with a panicked expression, moving his hands in the air over me like he was going to touch me but didn’t know if he should.
