Each step I took dragged along my fear and confusion. I had no idea where I was, only that this land was unfamiliar and desolate. No signs of life, no housesjust dark trees and tall grass stretching into the night.
My heart pounded in my chest, my breaths becoming faster and more labored. How much longer could I keep running? How long before my strength completely gave out? The fear wasn't just from the driver chasing me, but also from the isolation, the vast emptiness of the night that seemed to swallow me whole.
His hateful words replayed in my mindhow my mere existence had made him furious enough to want to kill me. The cruelty and senselessness of it all made me feel powerless. Why was I enduring this? Why do people hurt others with such baseless hatred?
I kept running, searching desperately for safety. But each step felt heavier, each second stretched out longer. My hope was fading, and despair began to creep in. For a moment, I wanted to give up, but then, out of nowhere, I heard my name.
"Elwyn! Elwyn!"
My heart skipped a beat. Someone was calling me! I stopped, listening intently. The voice cut through the thick silence, and I turned, scanning the darkness. A figure emerged, and I recognized the familiar face illuminated by a flashlight.
"Elwyn!" the voice called again, clearer this time.
It was Jackie, my close friend, running toward me, his eyes full of worry and urgency.
Tears streamed down my face as relief washed over me. I ran to him, my voice trembling, "Jackie! You're here!"
Jackie pulled me into a tight embrace. "Elwyn, I've been so worried! Are you okay? We need to get out of here now!"
I nodded, barely able to speak through my tears. "There's a madman chasing me. He wants to kill me, Jackie. We have to go!"
Without hesitation, Jackie grabbed my hand, and we ran together, desperate to escape. Even though I felt safer with Jackie by my side, fear still gnawed at me. I couldn't be sure if the driver had given up.
Suddenly, I heard the sound of the driver standing up and spotting us. He let out a furious roar and began chasing after us, but when he saw Jackie, his expression changed. Hatred twisted his face as he shouted, "Damn it! You bastard!"
Realizing he had no chance now, the driver cursed under his breath and disappeared into the darkness.
We stopped running, both of us gasping for air as we watched him retreat. Jackie held my hand tightly, his voice firm. "We have to leave this place now. I won't let him hurt you again."
I nodded, feeling safer now, but still shaken. The danger wasn't over yetwe needed to get home.
We continued running, heading toward the faint glow of a small village in the distance. Jackie never let go of my hand, guiding me through the fear and the dark unknown.
Our legs were burning with exhaustion, but finally, we reached the village. The warm glow of streetlights and the sight of houses filled me with relief. We had escaped.
Jackie stopped, turning to me with concern. "Are you okay? Do you need to rest?"
I shook my head, forcing a weak smile. "I'm fine, but we need to find help."
Suddenly, all the emotions I had been holding back hit me like a wave. I broke down, sobbing uncontrollably, collapsing into Jackie's arms. Everythingthe fear, the helplessness, the exhaustioncame pouring out. I had been strong for so long, holding myself together as a single mother, but now, I couldn't keep it up any longer.
Jackie held me close, his hand gently rubbing my back. "It's okay, Elwyn. You're safe now. I'm here," he whispered, his voice warm and soothing. His words were exactly what I needed, and I clung to him, feeling a comfort I hadn't felt in years.
I felt the weight of all my burdens easing in his embrace. He had always been there for me, but in this moment, I realized just how much I had been longing for someone to share my fears with.
Just then, I remembered the phone call with my son. I pulled my phone from my pocket and saw that the call was still connected. My heart raced. "Dennis!" I cried into the phone, my voice trembling. "Dennis, it's me. I'm okay now. I'm so sorry I scared you."
On the other end, Dennis's voice was shaky with concern. "Mom, are you sure you're okay? I called the police. They're on their way."
My heart melted at the sound of my son's voice. "I'm okay, Dennis. I'm with Uncle Jackie now. We're safe."
Jackie gently took the phone from me, his voice reassuring. "Dennis, you did great. Your mom and I are safe now, and we'll wait for the police. Don't worry anymore, okay?"
Dennis, clearly holding back tears, replied, "Okay, I won't worry. I love you, Mom."
Tears welled up in my eyes again, but this time from the love I felt for my son. "I love you too, Dennis. I'll be home soon."
When the call ended, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. Jackie was still holding me, his arms strong and protective. "Elwyn, you're so strong. You made it through. You're not alone anymore."
I looked up at him, tears still lingering on my face. "Thank you, Jackie. I don't know what I would have done without you."
Jackie smiled gently. "I'll always be here for you, Elwyn. You don't have to worry anymore."
I rested my head against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. His arms wrapped around me like a shield, keeping all my fears at bay. His deep voice whispered in my ear, "It's okay, Elwyn. You're safe now. I'm here."
In his embrace, the fear slowly began to fade, and I felt calmer. The nightmare was over. I was safe now.