Can't catch me.

"You dumbass!"

That was what poor and fragile Jamie was. The dumbass who couldn't do anything right. The eggs were too runny, the sink wasn't draining fast enough and she needed to clean it...again....for the fourth time! Or perhaps time wasn't on his side and now he was running late to the office. He would always yell at her every morning, " What the hell Jamie! You couldn't make scrambled eggs to save your life and now I'm going to be starving for my meeting. You know what? Just forget it. I'll grab something on the way". There are a million reasons that he could be in such a terrible mood right now. Wouldn't matter what it was, though. Somehow, this would be HER fault. Ahhhhh!!! She just wanted to scream at the top of her lungs!

Who was this woman? When Jamie was younger she was able to do what she wanted, how she wanted...with whomever she wanted....but no more. Those days were over. Jamie was no longer allowed to be pretty. No longer able to wear makeup and devour those sweet little chocolates that she loved while binge watching her soaps. Oh, and how she used to dream all day long about laying in a lavender scented bubble bath after a long hard day at school. Now, much to her disbelief, her day consisted of laundry and dishes and playing referree with a 40 year old man and her 13 year old daughter, Scarlet. If Scarlet only knew how to not have the last word, maybe there would be less scars.

But regardless, Jamie was proud to say that he had never laid a hand on Scarlet. Jamie had endured countless beatings and every time, she grew a little stronger. Whenever he would get upset and feel the urge to "release", as he would say, there would be tears and blood, sweat and screams. All she could think about was back in highschool before this whole nightmare began. She was the track star. She was popular, pretty, smart...some would dare to say she was the perfect mix of heaven and hell. She was kind but firm. Never let her guard down. One night would change all of that. Being popular doesn't make you invincible. Jamie had learned that the most difficult way possible.

When Jamie was 16, she was the talk of the school. She would have colleges calling her day and night offering her full ride scholarships to any college in the United States. This was of course Jamie's all time dream. She wanted to run track and study hard. Simple. Straight forward life plans have a tendency to sway sometimes. Jamie let her guard down for one night. And ended up paying the life long price.

Her parents would hear nothing of it. She was to get married and raise the child with the father. The fact that she was 16 and only a sophomore in highschool made no difference to her parents. She was married to a man who could've been mistaken for a boy. Very irresponsible and a heavy drinker, she could see this wasn't going to end well. Abuse course ensued shortly after the wedding. There was no honeymoon. She spent what should've been their honeymoon, handcuffed to a bed while he drank vodka and passed out. This wasn't supposed to be her life. What the hell happened? She could not do this anymore. She had to do something. And fast.

After years of abuse and the fear of dying growing a little stronger every day, Jamie finally decided she had built up enough courage to run. She and her Scarlet were going to run. Now was her chance to show her daughter what a strong woman can do.

As night grew closer, Jamie became restless. She wanted nothing more than to start running towards freedom. To feel the wind in her hair and the dirt beneath her feet. It was going to be great. It was going to be magical! Finally the drunk decided it was time to black out. So she and Scarlet grabbed their bags and tip toe towards the door. They look back one more time at the filth and hatred they were leaving behind. Jamie stepped over the threshold and her heart started racing. She stepped out onto the porch. Her first breath of fresh air in more than fifteen years. Dazed by the fresh air and overcome with excitement, she lets out a small "eek" and the monster stirs. They make a run for it, leaving the door ajar behind them.

As Jamie runs, she closes her eyes and imagines she back on the track. She can hear her mom cheering her on. And then her dad. And then all of her friends that believed in her. She just ran faster. The dark swallowing her and Scarlet into it's dark mouth.

The warmth and brightness of the sun escaped under Scarlets still very heavy eyelids. She looks around. "Mom, we made it". Jamie wakes to see nothing but trees and listens to the sound of birds all around her. There was nothing that she couldn't do. She was ready to start over. To be the person she knew she was meant to be.

Jamie and Scarlet take off into the daylight that now has become their new normal and try to decide where to go. Unfortunately, Jamie wasn't even entirely sure where they were. She hadn't been allowed out of the house. So much had changed in fifteen years. What used to be nothing but land was bow a busy city with lots of traffic and noise. And so many people. She was scared. Maybe she should've just stayed. "NO!" She screamed out so loud she startled everyone around her and even herself. Jamie was not going to allow her child to grow up in such a toxic environment. Scarlet deserved better and she was going to get it.

After a week of scrounging and trying not to be found, Jamie and Scarlet stand in front of a white house with a blue door. The tree in the front yard still adorned with a tire swing. The ripe was frazzled and worn. Definitely been through some weather and maybe a child here or there. Jamie could feel the color rush back to her cheeks. She could feel the warmth of the day rush over her in a feeling of enlightenment. She was born again.

As they made their way to the front door, they hear it open. And are greeted with the face of a smiling old woman and the smell of homemade chocolate chip cookies.

"Hey, mom." says Jamie.