Dear Mom & Dad,

Now, I know what you're thinking.
This is not a suicide note, I'm not leaving you forever.  I'll be back, I'll come home. I promise.

I want to start by saying that I am sorry, and that I'm not running away from you. There's nothing you did to make me upset. I'm taking a break; call it a trip.  I'm going on an adventure.  I'm going to find my true purpose in this world, going to travel as far as I can to the edge of the sea, going to explore deep in the forest. I plan to leave a mark on this world, so when I'm no longer breathing, someone will know I once did.  I want to be someone who did something, not someone who watched the world change around them only able to stand there in awe.

You must be scared and worried, I don't blame you. You may think this is a joke, and that you'll wake up tomorrow to find me sleeping in my bed, but you won't.  And I won't be home for a while. This is what I want. I'm not giving up on life; I'm starting to live it. I'm tired of routine, I'm done with school, I want more.  I know there's more, more out there, just waiting to be found. And l certainly won't find it here, living an average life.

You both have always been great parents, and there's nothing you could have done to change the fate of who I want to be. Deep inside my heart, I know I'm making the right decision. I'm afraid to stay, because I know if I do, the dull grey pit inside my stomach is only going to grow, and spread until it consumes my entire existence. I want tyou to know, that from the bottom of my heart, I truly do love you. There's not a bone in my body that won't miss you as I embark on a new chapter of my life.

Don't come looking for me.

I'm safe. I love you.

Sincerely,

Your Daughter,
Saige Emily Charles

(PS: Don't call the FBI.)

Is that it? It can't be.

What else do I say? I've never done anything like this before. In fact, It's harder than it looks. The words didn't flow like I expected them to. There's so much I have to say, and yet so much I don't  want them to know. They're going to freak out, regardless of what the letter says; jumping to conclusions is their specialty.

I gingerly place the letter - carefully as to not bend it -  on my pillow.  A single tear begins to roll down my cheek and splats on the paper; causing the ink to run where my name is signed.

Being as quiet as possible, I head for the door to my room. With one last glance, I take it all in. It looks normal. Boring. I suppose I might end up missing it, with a comfy bed, endless clothes, anything I want at my fingertips. But the thought of waking up and starting another day, in the same small town, with the same people, causes my throat to close and stomach to knot. An invisible darkness threatens to take over, causing my fingers to tingle. I have to get out of here; now. It's time.

I won't miss it.  Not anytime soon, anyways.

Sneaking down the hall I take a quick peak into my parents' bedroom. Peaceful. They look happy. I think about the chaos that's sure to ensue in the morning when they realize I'm gone, but the thought is too much. I don't want to think about the damage I'm causing by leaving so unexpectedly, or how hurt those who are close to me will feel.  I wouldn't be doing this is I didn't absolutely have to.   But turns out, life is more important than death.

Reaching for the disposable phone I bought the day before at 711, I check the time.

2:34am.

Taking a deep breath, I start down the hallway. Being as quiet as possible, moving slowly, holding my breath, every bone in my body is tense as the wooden floor beneath me creaks. Keep moving, is all I can think. And so I do, slowly and cautiously, down the stairs, through the laundry room, until I reach the basement window. I run my hand against the panel feeling the rough wood covered in chipped mint green paint, worn down from the late night escapes. The thought makes me smile, and erases any previous worries or doubts. For the last time, I climb through the window and into a bush of red carnation flowers that are beginning to wilt from the cold weather. I pull my hood over my head, just in case, and crouch low, leaning against the house to hide from the motion sensor light that goes off in the driveway.

It's only when I'm down the block that I realize how long I've been holding my breath. I gasp as the brisk October air fills my lungs, and do up the zipper of my black winter jacket.

As I head to our meeting place-- a parking lot no longer in use-- I can feel my heartbeat grow faster until it's a consistent pattern.  I'm nervous.  What if Miles forgot?  What if this is just one big setup and everything he said was a lie?  Am I making a bad decision?

5 minutes later, I'm walking into the dark abandoned parking lot.  Covered by trees and rarely used, it's the perfect place to meet, and also the destination of the car we packed full of our belongings the night before.  Just then, I feel a hand on my shoulder, causing to me jump out of my skin. I whip around, ready to throw a few punches, because you know...just incase I have to.

"Hey, you. You're late." Miles' warm smile distracts me from the bitter cold of the night, and I can feel myself instantly begin to melt in his presence.

"Jesus. You scared the shit out of me, you know that?" As much as I want to be mad, I can't be. It's not possible to stay mad at those green eyes for long.

"I see that. I'm sorry, I should have known you would be on edge. Are you ready for this?" Miles looks me up and down, a smirk on his face. "Damn.  All black, nice.  I should have thought of that." He says sarcastically as he looks down to his black shoes, jeans, shirt and jacket.

"Great minds think alike, what can I say?" I laugh. "Yea, I'm ready. Nervous though."

"So am I."

I could tell he was nervous from his disposition. Over the past two years we've gotten so close, I can read him just as well as he can read me; like an open book.

"Everything ready to go? I keep feeling like we're forgetting something." I say as I pat the pockets of my jacket, assuring myself that I have both my phone and wallet.

"Cars loaded, we're good to go." I peer over to the small 1997 Volkswagen Golf we bought for $600 on craigslist. "Only thing we are forgetting is probably our sanity. But we don't need that, do we?"

"Are you sure that thing even runs?" I point to the Golf, eyebrows raised with suspicion. It's dirty, and looks like it's about to fall apart in a matter of moments. Miles insisted on leaving behind his 2015 Jeep his parents bought him for his 17th birthday, 'because they'll find us.' I didn't argue with him, I don't care what we take. A car is a car.

Following my gaze, Miles laughs. "Sure does. Sturdy little thing, too."

The frown on my face breaks into a smile. "I love it."

I walk towards our new ride, admiring the features. Peering in the window, I run through my mental checklist of everything we packed last night.

"I think we got everything. You ready?" I turn around, only to see an empty parking lot behind me. "Miles?" I turn on my heels, confused. When moments pass with no answer, I begin to panic. "Miles?"

Gently pulling me from behind, spinning me to face him, Miles brushes a piece of stubborn hair out of my eye. I jump, surprised.  "I am now." Miles says as his hand strokes my cheek, stopping only at my chin. He leans in and gently kisses me.

When our lips finally pull apart, they're tingling.  His vibrant green eyes dance with determination and excitement.

"Let's do this."

_______..._______