Leaving Spencer- Part 1

What does freedom mean to you? I had initially thought about answering this question as myself. But I decided to try my hand at a story that has been told a hundred times before. This was another one that ended up being over two thousand words. So, I split it up again, so come back next week for the second half. TW: ABUSE AND SEXUAL ASSULT.

Maggie entered the train station and handed over her ID and some cash. She had ten minutes before the train left. She was determined to be on that train. She wasn’t afraid to admit she was running away. She just didn’t need cops being called about her being a child. She was doing her best to hide her tracks as well. Before coming here, she had gone to the bus station and bought a ticket to the west coast using her debit card. She couldn’t even remember what city she had picked. Then she had pulled as much cash as she could out of the atm and then walked to the train station. Spencer would have a hard time finding her when he was looking in the wrong direction.

She got in line to the train platform where the security guard was checking everyone in. When Maggie approached the guard hesitated on her. She wasn’t too surprised; she hadn’t put enough makeup on in her rush to get out of the house and the bruises were showing through.

“Young lady, are you alright? You look quite frazzled.” He commented. Maggie knew her demeanor is what caught his attention. Every few moments she would look around. She couldn’t help but think that Spencer already knew where she was and he or one of his cronies would come around a corner.

“Yes sir, I’m fine. Just anxious to get out of here.” She answered as she handed over her ticket.

“Very well,” he said punching her ticket, “enjoy your ride.”

Maggie found her seat and pulled her hood up on her jacket as she settled in. When train finally pulled out of the station she took a deep breath. She wasn’t safe yet, but she escaped. Now she just needed to find somewhere to go that Spencer couldn’t find her. She laughed at herself. According to him, a place like that didn’t exist, she couldn’t survive without him so he would always be able to get to her. Maggie didn’t know how it got this bad, but she was going to prove him wrong.

Slipping into an uneasy sleep Maggie tried to figure out how it had gotten so bad so quickly.

Spencer and he meet their freshman year of high school. His father was the CEO of a major ship manufacturer that had contracts all over the world. His father had given Spencer everything he had wanted, and Spencer had earned an inflated sense of entitlement in the prosses. Maggie and Spencer finally started dating in junior year. Spencer saw Maggie as someone worthy of being with him since she had such a quiet demeanor. Maggie was just surprised and starstruck that Spencer even noticed her. Everything seemed perfect at first. That was until Christmas break when Spencer would not stop texting her the entire two weeks. Maggie’s parents were happy for her, knowing how happy Spencer had been making her. But that break, if Maggie hadn’t texted back within fifteen minutes, he started asking questions about who she was with.

When school had started up again Spencer brought roses to school saying that he missed her so much he couldn’t help himself but to want to talk to her the whole time. With the way he had looked at her with sad eyes Maggie melted instantly and forgave him. Now she wishes she would run then. It was the first of many red flags.

When Maggie woke up on the train the next morning, the announcement said they would arrive in Carsontown a small town before the destination of Scranton, PA. Maggie chose to get off at this station. Had she continued to her final tickets stop there was a chance Spencer could find her. It had taken two weeks to get her meager supplies to pack and a plan in place to sneak out without help. But she was here now. When she got off the train, she found herself in the town’s main square. She saw a charming little diner and realized she was starving.

Maggie sat down in the corner facing the door. She was going to have a hard time managing this new freedom. The waitress took a good long look at Maggie before coming over to the table.

“Is he here with you darling?” there was no pretending with this woman. Maggie hung her head and took a deep breath.

“No, I just got off the train. I left last night” The woman sat down across from her and waited till Maggie looked at her again.

“What’s the story? Tell me so that I know how to help you.”

There were so many red flags throughout the rest of the school career. Even Maggie’s parents finally tried to step in to separate them. But Maggie came up with so many excuses. She believed all that Spencer would tell her about her parents not wanting her to be happy. So that by spring break of their senior year she had moved in with Spencer and his family. She truly believed that it was the best choice at the time. Her parents tried to get her to see reason and come home. But Spencer’s dad had dinner with them, and they stopped pushing so hard.

After graduation Spencer dropped down on one knee and asked Maggie to spend her life with him. Maggie had hesitated because just the night before they had got into an argument about Maggie finding her own place and getting a job. There had been a lot of yelling by both, and a glass vase was thrown across the room by Spencer. That’s when they snapped out of it and went to bed though they hadn’t resolved the argument. So, as Spencer is in front of her, she wonders if this is just his attempt at getting his way. But she also knows she loves him in her heart. So, pushing aside her doubts she says yes.

Maggie had called her mom to tell her the good news that night.

“Sweetheart, really? And you said yes then?”  her mom asked sounding strained.

“Of course I did mom,” Maggie answered “He said that he never wanted me to be alone again! Isn’t that just the best?”

“Yeah honey. Sounds like he’s not going to let you go. I’m just worried about how young you are.”

“What do you mean mom”

“Well, when you were younger you had a plan to live on your own for a few years so that you would never have to rely on someone. I hate to think that you won’t get to have that experience before you get married.”

Just then Spencer walked into the room and saw her on the phone. He ripped it out of her hand and smashed it on the ground.

“Your mine now. You don’t get to talk to anyone without my permission again!”

That was the first time he hit her. She was so shocked by what happened she just stood there holding her cheek while tears started to fall. From that night on Maggie had to spend every second by either Spencer’s side or with his mother so Maggie could learn what was expected of her.

To be continued…