On the Run

Kimberly looked at the headlines of the local newspaper with disgust.

Officer Michael Epson! One of Layton’s finest was recently awarded the Medal of Service after freeing a man from a car before it exploded

Kimberly ran. Officer Epson was the reason she ran. She had been running for a long time now. One two many black eyes and broken bones forced her to leave for good, this time. She had planned for over a year, secretly saved money and secured hiding places. This time she wouldn’t get caught. Only this time, it would be so much harder, now that she had Kenny, who just turned three.

The first place they stayed for over four months, but when Kenny got sick she had to find an acute care clinic and get him to the doctor.  Leaving the clinic, she realized the mistake she made after using Michael’s insurance card instead of the cash she had. “Damnit, you need to think about these things. You’re so stupid”. She told herself has she palmed her forehead in the car. Sure enough within the next week he found them. He used her as a punching bag while Kenny cried and cried in the corner. He swore she would never leave him again, after he forced them both back to their old apartment.  She couldn’t be seen for over a week until the bruises healed.

The second place lasted a little longer. However, it wasn’t far enough away and after accidentally running into a mutual acquaintance it wasn’t long before word got back to him. This time he cracked her head into the pop cooler and smashed up the place as he pulled her out of the convenient store she was working at…declaring she was resisting arrest.  Not only did he drag her back to their apartment, she lost her job and received a bill for the damages that was caused. At least Kenny was with the sitter and didn’t witness this assault. He did however, see the bruises.

This time though, they were in another state.

For the first week she would sleep in the closet. Every little noise she heard she just new he would show up and bang on her door and drag them back. 

On this particular day after she picked up Kenny from the sitter, she swore the police car behind her was following her. She circled the block three different times to be sure. She finally opened the garage and pulled in before the police car even turned down her block.

She rushed into the house, locked the doors and windows and ran to their hiding place. Both her and Kenny were crammed into the little closet. She was trying to calm her breathing, it sounded so loud she was sure anyone outside the door would hear. But she gripped the little snub nose pistol with every ounce of strength she had.

“Momma, I.” The little boy started.

“Shhh”, she said as she put her index finger up to her lips to try and keep the little boy quiet. 

“But Momma,” Kenny said again.

This time she put her hand over his mouth and shook her head no to keep him from speaking.

In the next hour the banging started. The yelling started. Officer Michael Epson was there…again banging on her door.

She wondered how in god’s name could he keep finding them. She didn’t even use a credit card or insurance or anything this time.

As she was lost in thought, listening to the banging, Kenny wrestled away from her and turned around and pulled her head down to his mouth.

“Momma, my shoe fell off.” Kenny whispered.

Image courtesy of the photographer, +Hilary Truman