.......

He throws me against the greasy wall. I fall down to the ground. We're both covered with motor oil, sweat, and blood. We're on the highest floor of some hotel. I guess we're in the oil room because all there is here is deep dark oil. I look up at him and see that he's too strong and big. There is no way I can get out of here alive. I always knew something like this would happen but I never thought he was this cruel. That really didn't matter now though, I just had to get out of here. I see him walking towards me through the strings of hair that stick to my face. I stretch my hand up to him and see his expression change from anger to confusion. He takes my hand and helps me stand up. As soon as I'm up, I start kissing him. I feel him begin to calm down and we quickly walk over to a corner, still in eachother's arms. Perfect. Then I knee him in the ribcage. He falls down with his hand clutching to his stomach, while I make a run for it. I quickly go over to the ladder that's attached to the wall as well as the ceiling leading to an emergency exit in the middle of the ceiling. I climb as fast as I can, looking back to see if he's coming after me which makes me climb even faster. I slip twice, bumping my lower lip on the ladder. I can taste blood in my mouth and feel it going down my face. I get to the top of the wall and begin to climb the ceiling. I hold on tight and my nails dig through my palm. But it doesn't hurt because I guess I'm used to it. I see him come up the ladder like a flash of light and start the ceiling. I get to the exit. It reads "1. Turn 2. Push." I turn and push, then I grab a hold of the bar that's right outside and start pulling myself. He then grabs a hold of my leg and I shake him off. He falls to the ground, then runs over to a red button on the wall. When he pushes it, another ladder came right down to him from the exit. I run out and push the door shut. Then I realize that I'm on the roof and the building is 15 stories high. I see the door move and I start to panic. Then I see a rope leading to a balcony. I run over there and climb it down. I untie the rope to get rid of evidence.



"May I help you?' I turn around to see a handsome man staring at me with confusion. He was about four or five inches taller than me. He had straight, black hair that came down passed his ears and green eyes that remind you of the water at the beach. He looked about in his late twenties. I think I see a grin forming as his eyes move up and down my body.



"Oh, I just need to rest for a little while." I step in the room without being invited. I leave black marks of little footprints as I walk over to the couch. My clothes are stuck to my body like it has just been raining outside. This morning, despite the weather, I had been wearing a cute, white summer dress that had just draped over my body. Now, it's a mysterious mixture of black and white.



"I think I need to call 911. You are seriously hurt."



"No, don't call the cops. I'm fine. I just need to take a shower." I say, using my eyes to point down the hall.



"Um...sure go ahead and use the bathroom. Do you need something?" He walks me over to the bathroom.



"Can I get some clothes? I mean you must have a girlfriend. I think I can fit into her clothes, she probably won't mind."



"I'll loan you my sweats and a t-shirt." He hands me some nicely folded clothes.



"Perfect."



The bathroom was pretty big with gold colored tiles and matching sink, toilet, and bath. I take off my clothes and throw them in the trash. I look at myself in the mirror, and jump a little. I have cuts everywhere with blood squeezing out of them. I'm surprised the man didn't make a big deal out of it. I step into the bath tub leaving black marks everywhere. I let the cold water hit me knowing that my cuts will sting. After a minute, I became numb to every feeling. I look down to see black water going down the drain. Then I closed my eyes and relived the day.



I step out of the bath tub onto the gold colored mat. I can really make out all the cuts now that I was clean. I wrap the white towel around me. I rub some lotion all over my body and slip into the clothes the man gave me. It was a black hoodie and dark gray sweat pants. Then I use the towel to clean all the mess I had made.



"You OK in there?" He asks.



I open the door to let him know that I'm all done. I throw the dirty towel in the trash can and step out of the bathroom. I hold my curly, black hair up and thank him for everything. He walks me over to the couch and motions for me to sit down. He sits on a chair infront of me.



"So, you mind telling me what happened to you now?"



"Well, it started out as a normal day where me and my boyfriend went to the park to have a picnic lunch. Then all of a sudden, he decides to propose to me. I haven't known him that long and I didn't love him enough. So I tell him 'no'. That ticks him of, so he dragged me all the way up to the top of this building. Then he takes me in this room filled with motor oil. He starts threatening me. But I didn't change my mine. So he beat me up. He said if he can't have me no one can. He was probably trying to kill. But I escaped and now I'm here."



"We need to call the police on this guy." He says.



"You do what you want, but I have to go. Thanks for everything and I'll bring your clothes back." I get up and walk to the door.



"Are you sure you'll be OK?"



I nod and leave.



I go back to the hotel my ex and I were in to gather my belongings. The concierge grabs my arm and stops me.



"What's wrong, Adah?"



"Nothing. What makes you think something's wrong? I'm just gonna go up and get my stuff. I'm leaving right now." I really didn't have to seem that irritated. But I don't want everybody knowing my business, not yet at least. I still had to figure things out for myself.



Once in my room, I pack my bag and leave a note saying, "I'm sorry things didn't out the way you planned...thanks for sparing my life." I hope he gets the sarcasam. I don't sign my name or leave behind anything that belonged to me. I was to disappear without a trace and hope I forget.



I drag my bag over to the elevator and go down back to the lobby. The concierge, Alen, stops me again.



"Hey, Adah, you know if you need to talk, you can talk to me, right?" He had just graduated from college this summer and have been working at the hotel since he was eighteen because his father owned the hotel. We've become really close friends since I first met him at a New Year gathering at the Senior Citizen Home, where I volunteered since I moved here. He had been visiting his grandmother who passed away a year ago, which is exactly how long I've been here. I have really over stayed my welcome.



"Oh, I know." I respond and leave. Through out my life, ever since I was in middle school, I've made friends that I never got to see again for various reasons. So what if I won't get to see him again? It's nothing new.



I know I had to get out of this place before he finds me. I know where I want to go and it's not going to be a big city like San Fransisco. So I decide that i would take the next plane to Juneau. I