Chill

Chill(Cristino Trejo) It still hurts. Long after the wounds scar over and the bruises fade, it will still hurt. Just a little longer. Tonight we ease the pain, if only slightly. The monster finally fell asleep. It’s amazing how he can just lie down on the sofa and rest peacefully after everything he’s done.

Now is my only chance. I slowly open my window only to be hit by the intense cold from the snowy night. In hope that he kept his promise, I call out for Tyler Ashen, my boyfriend turned savior.
“Tyler, are you there? Please hurry!”
I jump back slightly as a ladder props itself up onto my window sill. Tyler climbs up and through my window.
“It’s okay now, I’m here. Is he asleep?”
“For now, but you just made a lot of noise. If we don’t hurry, he’ll-”
I start crying.
“It’ll be okay. Pack your things and get dressed in your warmest clothes. It’s like 5 degrees outside.”
“Thank you, Tyler.”
Tyler comes closer and puts his arms around my shoulders. This is how he always comforts me.
“Stop crying Alexis. You know I don’t like it when you cry. It’ll all be over soon, so let’s hurry.”

I shove as much as I can into my small backpack. I throw on my warmest coat and my boots. I was shaking. I couldn’t even imagine what my father would do if he woke up now.
“I’m ready. Let’s leave now.”
“Alright. I’ll go down first just to make sure it’s safe.”
As Tyler opened the window, I felt that familiar chill from the frozen night. The cold alone should have been enough to knock me off my feet, but I was burning with adrenaline from the current situation. He climbed down the ladder, making too much noise on the way down.
“Careful, he might-”
That’s when I heard it. Footsteps pounding up the stairs at a slow, yet terrifying rate. There’s no point in being quiet now.
“He’s coming!”
I hear a pounding on my door.
“Open up, Alexis!”
“Damn it!” yelled Tyler. “Alex, you have to jump!”
“I can’t, I’m too scared!”
I had always been terrified of heights, but right now i had other things to be afraid of. My lunatic father was trying to push down my door.
“Alexis! Open the damn door now!”
“Alex, please. I’ll catch you. Trust me.”
I trusted Tyler more than anyone else. He would never let me fall. That’s why I love him. I climb up onto my window sill and look back one more time. Big mistake. My father bursts through the door and bolts towards me. I have no choice. I have to jump. I let myself fall, and on my way down I see my father trying to reach out and grab me. He’s yelling from the top of his lungs, “Go ahead. Run away, just like your mother.”

Tyler catches me in his arms. He puts me down, and then holds me tighter than ever. Finally, he loosens his grip and looks me in the eye.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
I can’t think of a good response, so I reach up and put my arms around his shoulders just like he always does for me, then I kiss him. That’s one way to say yes.
“I love you.”
Tyler blushes and turns away.
“I-I Love you too.”
I feel good knowing that it’s not just embarrassing to me.
“Okay,” Tyler says, gaining his composure. “Let’s get out of here.”
He grabs my hand and we begin to push our way through the wall of falling snow. We walk for about an hour until we reach an underpass. Lincoln Bridge, the place where Tyler and I first met when I ran away from home for the first time.
“Let’s stop here for the night. It’ll keep us out of the snow.”
“This place brings back memories, doesn’t it?”
“Sure does. Now let’s get some rest. We’ll leave in the morning.”
We sit close to keep each other warm. As I close my eyes and begin to fall asleep, I feel a chill. The pain goes numb.