I run and run and run.  It isn't as hard as I had thought, running away from home. However, the minute my parents notice that I'm gone, the going will immediately get more tough. I will be SO grounded if I get caught. Luckily for me, I don't plan on getting caught. I am already beginning to question my rapid decision, but there is no turning back now. Besides, this is what I had wanted for a while now, right? No more rules, no more school, no more being forced to attend youth group on Wednesdays and being dragged out of bed for church early every Sunday morning. I am old enough to take care of myself. Old enough that my parents can't control me.
When I reach the edge of the woods, I stop at my best friend, Amy's, house and slip a note into our secret mailbox. It is in our secret code. All it says is a simple goodbye. No information she can give to my parents or the police.
Now my journey really begins.
I sprint back into the woods, and this time head in the opposite direction. It will be a long stretch of forest before I reach the next town.
After walking for what seems like hours, I sink down onto an old tree stump. Then I count the rings, just because I'm bored. 103 rings! This tree is a grandpa. No matter how much fun it is, the game I had begun of giving an age and character to the trees around me doesn't distract me for long from my aching feet and growling stomach. I sit back down and sling the backpack off my shoulder to rummage for anything edible. After a few minutes of searching all the pockets, I come up with only my water bottle and some granola bars. I hadn't had much of a chance to grab anything on my way out the door. Oh well. This will have to do for now.
I open the water bottle and sip some of the cool liquid, careful to save some for later. After I finish the granola bar too, I glance upwards at the sky. It's getting dark fast. I had hoped to make it out of the woods before nightfall, but I guess this is where I would be spending my first night alone.