Two days of freedom from him did wonders for me. I can’t explain it but a new sensation invaded my body now. The only thing I could think of was hope. I had hope again for the first time since my life did a complete one-eighty. Hope that I could have a better life not lived in fear. Hope that love would be part of my vocabulary again. Hope brought a smile to my face.

"Class shut off the computers before the bell rings." Mrs. Meadows demanded at the end of class.

It’s the start of the weekend, and most everyone around me is buzzing about their plans. They looked forward to it, unlike me. I dreaded the weekends. He was usually home and pissed that he didn’t have a church to preach at out here in California yet, so he would take it out on Nancy and I. Especially on Sundays. I hate Sundays.

A note was shoved in front of me after I finished putting up my books.

Replying He’s coming back today. I have to go home straight after school to help Nancy.

She wrote back and put the rest of her stuff away.
 

Enjoying my last few moments of relaxation and freedom, I closed my eyes as the wind blew threw my hair on the ride back home. I didn’t want these last two days to end.

Ash stopped a couple of houses down from mine not wanting to chance a meeting with the monster. "Will you call me if…"

Cutting her off, I explained "I’m not allowed near a phone. He even takes it with him when he’s gone, so we call anyone."

The horrified expression on Ashley’s face was heart breaking. "I’ll get you a phone. Just keep it on Silent or turned off. That way we can talk a night or if you need something you’ll have it." She tried smiling a little at the new found information, but it was forced.

"You don’t have to but thank you." I gave her a small smile and noticed she was staring up the road. Wondering what she could be looking at, I followed her eyes to my driveway. His car was parked in the driveway, and my panic sets in.