I’m hopeful that with a couple thousand miles between us, I’ll find the courage to finally rip his claws out of me. I’m a silver-lining kind of girl, and maybe this will be the chance I need to get him out of my life for good.
Griffin snatches a light-gray sweatshirt off the chair by my desk and extends it toward me. “You look cold.”
I blink at him in confusion but take it anyway. It’s not until my arm is stretched out to grab it that I see the finger marks already appearing on my skin. Sure enough, that’s going to bruise.
I pull the thing over my head and tug the sleeves down to my wrists. I glance in the mirror and free my long, mud-colored hair, only to secure it in a low ponytail.
Griffin raises his hand near my face, and I instinctually flinch.
He’s never outright hit me, but I wouldn’t put it past him. Not anymore.
He loops his finger under the scrunchie and yanks it out. “I like it better down.”
* * *
Istep off the plane and immediately take in the drastically warmer air. It’s different than back home, much drier than that of the humid East Coast. I’ve never really been a fan of colder weather, so skipping a snowy winter is another perk of being out west.
In reality, this whole experience wouldn’t be terrible if I had a semi-normal relationship with my mother and visited enough to be comfortable with the area. Being thrown into this on such short notice has been a shock to my system.
Life is full of the unexpected though, and if I intend on doing this wholeadultthing, I have to be resilient.
I turn my phone off airplane mode and order myself a ride to my mom’s place. Of course, she couldn’t be bothered to rearrange her work schedule to welcome her estranged daughter to her home.
Countless texts pop across my screen, but I swipe them away to finish my task. They’re all from Griffin anyway. Usually, I wouldn’t dare ignore them, but the thousands of miles between us gives me a newfound courage that I am definitely embracing.
I lug my bags across the airport, my long-sleeved shirt making me stick out among all the shorts and tank tops most of the people are wearing. I stand patiently with the rest of the arrivals waiting for their rescue from this overly crowded area. Everyone seems antsy and ready to get the hell out of here. Me on the other hand, I’m equal parts excited and anxious for this next chapter of my life.
Once I’m tucked inside my transportation, I thumb the notification screen down, scanning through the messages from Griffin and clicking on the one from Rosie.
Rosie:You landed!! I’m totally a stalker BFF. I’ve been tracking your flight!
Me:Haha, yeah. I made it. Heading to Beth’s house now.
The three little dots appear immediately.
My driver clears her throat and makes eye contact with me in the rearview mirror.
“You just visiting, sweetheart?” Her voice is scratchy but otherwise comforting.
I nod. “Yeah… Well, sort of. I'm hoping it's short-term.”
She raises an eyebrow as if questioning my answer and then switches lanes.
My phone buzzes in my hand.
Rosie:She’s not there though, right?
I quickly type a reply.
Me:Nope, she’s gone for another week, I think.
I return my attention to the real-life woman in the front seat. “It’s sort of a long story.”
She points toward the GPS device attached to the dash. “We’ve got time.”
I smile and settle back into my seat. “I’m not sure where to start.”
“So, it’s one of those situations… I see.” She merges the car onto the highway. “Well, unless you’re one of those overpackers, your luggage is telling me you’ll be here more than a weekend.”