My life was always different. I could never remember my parents being together. My father, Don, was wildly abusive, and my mother, Trisha, was a drunk. To put it lightly, my family was dysfunctional. I hated my life and had been planning to down my stash different cold medicines if it got too bad, but I didn’t want to disappoint anybody. 

My school sucked, but I went to avoid my father. My math teacher Mr. Hanson just finished his lecture on the law of sines, and I was over school right now. I was the first one out of class when the bell rang; that’s when I saw Kelly. 

“Hey Sis,” she yelled down the hall as soon as she saw me. 

“Hey, Kelly,” I screamed back, running towards her. 

“Are you staying after to avoid your dad again?” she said as she frowned. “You need to stand up to him,” she scoffed, 

“and get beat up, no thanks,” I said as I turned around to Leave. 

“Well, good luck,” she yelled, turning away. I left the hall towards the bus to rush home, trying not to get in trouble. The bus is always late and waits for no one. I stood there on my phone. The one I hid from my father, trying to check the bus schedule. When the bus arrived, I got on and sat in the back, avoiding everyone. When my stop came up, I walked home so fast I was almost running. When I got to my door, it was quiet, which was unusual at my house. I pulled out my key and opened the door as soon as I walked in. I saw all the pills I had hidden on the dining room table. I froze for a second and saw my father.

He just sat there until all of the sudden he said, “Give me the phone” I tried to play dumb, acting like I didn’t know what he meant. 

“What do you mean?” he stood up and smacked me in the face with all his force. Then I realized that he must have found the charger.

 “Give it up now,” he bellowed with his deep voice. I was so scared that I just gave it to him. “Go clean up your room,” he said with an angry look. I almost ran to my room, but then I opened the door to find the place ransacked. I guess he was trying to find the phone, but it was on me, so he had to wait for me to get home.

I heard him yelling at nothing, and at that moment in time, I decided I had enough. I grabbed a coat and kicked out my window. I hopped out and ran with all my life, fearing he’d be behind me. The cold wind smacked my face as I tried to navigate in the dark. I only stopped when I reached the MAX station. I arrived in my pocket to find 73 cents and a business card for a runaway shelter that I forgot existed. 

I sat, waiting for the train to take me downtown. I was so scared that I nearly screamed when the train pulled in. The doors opened, and I walk in, hoping there was no security guard to ask for my fare. We passed every stop without stopping for anyone. First Hayden bridge then Q street, Centennial, E street, and finally Downtown station. I was the only one to get off and the only one at the station. I walked over to the payphone using 50 cents to call the phone number on the business card in my pocket.

“Looking Glass Youth Services, How can I help you?” the voice over the phone said a little too happy. 

“I just ran away and needed a place to go,” I said timidly to the woman. 

“What city are you in ?” she asked, 

“Portland,” I replied. 

“Well…..Get on the MAX to Gresham and get off at west Portland station from there go to bus 42 and ask for a safe place ride…..Get off at west 7th and walk down the connecting street…..you should see a house called station 11…..knock on the door and they will help…...goodbye…..Beeeeep,” I put down the phone, shocked at all that information so fast.

I sat there confused and trying to retain the information like it was a dandelion daring to float away. I walked across the platform to the sign that said North Portland to Gresham Departing 9:36 pm. I sat in the quiet station, feeling I was out of danger. The sky was dark and sad like it wanted to rain. The train pulled up, and I got in, hoping no one notices me. I sat in the back, and the train pulled away without a care.

The ride was smooth and comfortable, almost causing me to fall asleep. The train pulled in lazily as two people plus myself step off. The station was quiet and dull as it started to rain. It was so quiet I’d jumped when the train left. I sauntered to the platform that said Platform J; Routes 42, 75, 95, 1, 34, 25. 106. I stepped on the platform and walked, staring at each sign as I passed. Route 106 @ 10:56PM, Route 95 @ CANCELLED, Route 42 @ 11:00PM. I stopped as I remembered that the woman on the phone told me “...go to bus 42...”. I sat and waited without disruption. Right on time, the bus pulled into the station quietly. 

I stepped on, and the man asked: “Ticket Please” I was shocked at how loud his voice was. I responded with what the woman on the phone said, 

“Safe Place Ride Please.” The driver looked at me confused for a second, and then waved me on. 

The ride seemed to last forever until the driver stopped and yelled to the back of the bus where I sat “Hey Safe Place This Is Your Stop”. 

I was confused but compliant as I got off and stood there. I didn’t know where to go because I was on some weird back street. I listened and decided to walk towards the sound of traffic. As I turned onto the busy street, I asked a woman where Station 11 is, and she mindlessly pointed down the road. I walked and stopped standing in front of a large gray brick building that said Station 11. I stood there, scared and overwhelmed. I needed help, so I walked up to the door and pressed the door buzzer.

“Hello, Looking Glass Youth Services,” the door buzzer chimed to life. 

“Hi I’m a runaway, and I need help,” I said in a timid voice. Shortly after, a thin brown-haired woman opened the door.