Deadlines for Writers
Monthly Prompt: Ditch
Word count: 300
ANGEL by Tracy Kisgen
In hindsight, all the signs were there, but I thought with enough love, I could change Mike. But in the end, I would learn the truth of so many before me: a person only changes what, and when, they choose.
Two children and four years of marriage later, I finally had the courage to ditch the enemy. Having spent all my energy protecting my babies, there was no job to fall back on, no family who understood, and my only friend was desperation. As I walked into the bus depot, an old man caught my attention.
With a single wave, he made eye contact and offered a toothless smile. His brown skin crinkled around his eyes and somehow he felt safe to approach. Holding the hands of my children, aged two and three, we stepped towards the gentlemen seated on his baggage.
“You’re gong to be all right now.” The low voice was comforting, even though he could have no way of knowing my circumstances.
“I hope so.”
“Get on the bus. Go to Chicago. You will be safe there. Start a life. Never look back.” While I digested this strange advice, the man’s hand pulled a wallet from his pants pocket and he opened it, delivering several bills to my palm.
“I can’t-” Before I could explain that no matter how generous the offer, I could not accept money from a stranger, he laughed, his twinkling eyes reaching my heart.
“This is a gift for your bravery.”
As I looked down at the cash, seeing a handful of hundred-dollar bills, I missed the man’s escape. Somehow he had vanished in a moment. I took the money, bought a ticket for Chicago, and as I took a seat with my boys, I heard myself whisper, “thank you” to my angel.