"Runaway": a Short Story | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post

"Runaway": a Short Story

When you think of people running away from something, typically it is bad but who said running away can't be for the better.

16
"Runaway": a Short Story

This short story is a piece that I, Jordon Seig, wrote. All characters, places, and ideas are purely fiction. Any similarities are purely coincidental. This short story can also be found on my Wattpad page: @Jordoniscool5



Runaway

I sit in the booth of the restaurant where we had our first date, almost a year ago. I chew nervously on the skin around my nails. Painfully, I slid my hands under my thighs allowing my right leg to bounce.

These past two months have been horrible for me. My anxiety has been through the roof and my depression has led to a pile of clean dishes being stacked for weeks that I simply can't put away. Every bit of happiness I see is like a knife in my chest and it's couples who twist the knife and shove it further.

Yet I continue to try and love with my bruised and bleeding heart. Every day I am losing blood, my happiness and love and I am growing weaker and weaker until there is nothing that I can give him as I beg him to help. He is always there. He stitches my wounds shut every time. He makes sure I get my strength that I am back to normal.

But it is an endless cycle. I am fine for a few days, maybe even a week or two. Suddenly, BAM!

The knife is back in my chest and everything hurts. I am growing weaker. I become distant. I seclude myself. It isn't until my last breathe that I beg him to help again.

And he is there. Again and again and again.

Every single time, he drops everything to help me.

What hurts worse is that I know I am hurting him and I don't want too but I do and I don't know how to change. Until I do, I have to focus on myself and figure out why I am the way I am. If being alone during my struggle helps me fight for myself, then I would rather suffer alone and fail than drag someone down with me as I fight through an endless cycle.

"Marlee," I look up and he is standing there with his hands shoved deep into his pockets. His hair covers his eyes due to the beanie that is pulled tight around his head. Cheeks burning red with coldness, he takes a seat across from me after ordering a hot chocolate.

"You've been distant again." His voice is soft and it takes everything in my being to not let the dam break to soon.

Despite the painful lump in my throat, I manage to find my voice, "I know. " My chest hurts and I crack my knuckles.

"Listen Marlee-"

I cut him off, "We need to break up."

The look on his face is another knife in my chest. His mouth drops open and then closes, his eyebrows knitted together. "What makes you say that?"

I turn away and look outside the window. The window is slightly foggy due to the icy weather outside. Despite the temperatures, couples and families walk along the streets with thick jackets lined with fake fur. Their cheeks and nose are bright red but there are smiles on their faces as they look in windows of various stores. I can almost feel the coldness lapping against my face. But instead, I can feel in my chest, crawling inch by inch as it consumes my entire being until I am nothing but a weak and frail piece of ice where even the slightest touch threatens to melt me. If you hold on to long to it, it will melt into liquid and the only way it will reform is by letting me refreeze once more.

I turn and stare into his beautiful eyes, " I can't do this to you anymore." This only confuses him more.

"I can't do this to you anymore. " I repeat.

"Do what? What can't you do?" He asks reaching across the table for my hand but I pull it away.

"Us. It's not you. I know people say that when it really is the other person but I can promise that it is not you. It is me. I can't give you the love you deserve when I can't even love myself."

"But Marlee, that's okay." He takes a hold of his mug of hot chocolate, desperation, and sadness in his eyes, "We are okay. We are a team. We can do this."

I shake my head tears pricking at my eyes, "You can but I can't. I can't keep living like this. I can't keep relying on you to be there to pick me up whenever I fall down." Tears softly glide down my cheeks.

"I love you, I do but I can't keep hurting you." He opens his mouth to interject but I continue. " Don't say I am not hurting you because I know I am. Every time I pull you in, I just push you away. It isn't healthy. I can't keep doing this" Tears are now streaming down my face and I push them away with the back of my hand before resting my hand on top of his.

"I am going to get help. I can't keep living like this. I love you. What we have is special and I hope this doesn't ruin what we have but until I figure myself out, I can not be in a relationship. I would rather suffer alone and have to rely on myself or die than to crawl back to you, only to push you away again."

A tear streams down his cheeks, "Marlee you are such a beautiful woman and you have been through so much sh!t in life. You are stronger than you look. Do not ever change for anyone. I am proud of everything that you are. I love you more than words can say." His hand grabs mine and he kisses the back of my hand. "I am always going to be here for you."

If hearts could literally explode than that's exactly what my heart feels like. It feels like someone has ripped my heart from my chest, thrown it on the ground, stomped on it, ran over it, stabbed it and then threw it into a ditch to let it rot.

I pull my hands away and I leave. Stepping outside, the freezing cold bites at my face and my eyes burn with sadness but deep inside there is a spark that has ignited and I am going to do whatever it takes to feel whole and warm again, no matter what it takes.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

130530
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

29955
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

27621
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments