Run To You

Prologue

It was nearly midnight in the small town of Boulder Falls, Colorado; a dense layer of fog had begun to settle near the bottom of the empty city streets. It was mid-October, only days from Halloween when the blaring sound of sirens cut through the silence of the once peaceful night. The local Fire department were first on scene, engine 11 led by Fire Chief Jack Marshall. He would never forget that night. He had just been sitting at the table in the firehouse playing a friendly game of poker with his buddies to pass the time. Nothing exciting ever happens in Boulder, they rarely got called for anything more than rescuing Miss Mallory’s nearly blind cat from the old oak tree near the town square. The fire bell sang out loud that night, echoing through the firehouse with an Emergency call he would never be able to void from his mind. The address that dispatch relayed over the intercom must be a mistake, there couldn’t’ be a code 30 trauma at his house. The old fire engine roared to life as he attempted to place a call to his daughter; there was no answer.

The aged fire engine couldn’t drive fast enough, the lights wouldn’t change prompt enough. It was as if time had stood still when he finally pulled onto his street and saw his little girl on the curb, now surrounded by neighbors. Chloe Marshall couldn’t see her father as he ran toward her through her swollen eyes, she couldn’t hear him calling out to her, her head hurt but her body felt-well numb actually. She couldn’t’ feel anything but she knew if she could she would want to die. She woke up to the sound of alarms beeping around her in the Boulder Regional Emergency room. She had a broken rib, a concussion and 18 stitches in her abdomen. That night would haunt her family years to come.

Chloe

I have driven down this interstate so many times that I have every curve, and every pothole memorized. Today is not like every other day though, today I am not just driving to the book store off of Exit 43 or to the shopping mall off of Exit 45. No, today I am driving far past that, far past the town that has haunted my life for too long. Today I am driving two states over for a new beginning. I worked my butt off to earn this scholarship and as much as I hated leaving my father in the condition he was in I couldn’t stay any longer. As I steer my white Jetta near the state line I breathe in the fresh air with my window rolled down and my radio blaring my favorite Breaking Benjamin song. I have never felt so free in all my life. It’s been difficult growing up without my mom around, she died when I was seven. I don’t remember a whole lot about her and dad doesn’t like to talk about it. He actually doesn’t like to talk about much of anything anymore. Ever since he lost his job, things took a turn for the worse. Doctors are calling it the early onset of Dementia. Apparently excessive drinking can do that to a person who already has the predecessors.

My dad’s best friend Mac had moved in to help us out after his oldest son left for college last year. He was a huge help and for a short time I had almost remembered what having a real dad around was like. Mac is an amazing person, even though he’s in his early 40’s he doesn’t look a day over 35. Not a gray hair on his perfectly combed head. He took over as Fire Captain after dad was forced to resign. His wife had died a year before I was born and he never dated anyone after her. His son Greg was captain of the Varsity football team and ended up getting a full ride to The University of Florida. Mac had convinced the county to not place my dad into their care by moving in to help out last year. If it wasn’t for him I would have ended up spending my senior year in foster care. Not that it would’ve mattered much, I still wouldn’t have had any friends. Oh how the mighty fall…I had went from being the head cheerleader and one of the popular kids to someone that might as well have had some horrible disease that killed everyone who touched her. Shows you who your real friends are in the end. Oh well, it doesn’t matter anymore. I graduated and thanks to all my hard work I managed to gain a full scholarship to Brighton University in Washington.

This is exactly the kind of change I need in my life; new town, new school, and a fresh start. I have already convinced myself that I will bring my inner cheerleader personality back out, the one that I shoved into a dark closet two years ago. I will plaster on my peppiest smile and dig deep down to hide the darkness that tries so desperately to take over. Nobody will ever see that side of me again, I will be Miss Susie Sunshine from the moment I reach the dorms.

It only takes me two days to make it to the campus dormitory, it would’ve been quicker if I had my way. But, I promised Mac I would stop for the night and call him to check in. Now, as I sit here in the parking lot staring at my face in my rearview mirror, I adjust my caramel brown hair and dab some pink lip gloss to my lips. I smile at myself, but I can feel the tears starting to form, mentally I shake them away and take a deep breath before opening my car door to begin the next chapter in my life.

The parking lot is practically empty like I hoped it would be, school doesn’t start for another 3 weeks. I had planned to arrive early so that I wouldn’t have to deal with seeing all the parents hugging and kissing their children and witness all the emotions surrounding those awkward experiences I wouldn’t have. I also wanted to get first pick at which side of the room I wanted, I already know I have a roommate. According to the informational packet I received her name is Katie and she was also a cheerleader. The school had requested some information from us at the time of registration in order to pair us up and ensure the best possible housing outcomes. Of course I had lied a bit on mine, I was no longer a cheerleader or head of the dance team. I did however, graduate with a 4.0 and I was prom queen, even though it was my sophomore year.

The air here is colder than Boulder at this time of year, it was practically fall now. The middle of September. The campus is beautiful it resembles an old castle from one of the many fantasy novels I’ve read. The brick buildings are truly breathtaking, there are huge trees everywhere. It looks like more of a State Park than a school. As I approach my dorm building it’s a rustic red color, it instantly reminds me of the firehouse from home. I swallow that memory down and unlock the main door, as I follow the map up the stairs to the third floor and down the hall to room 254, I am silently praying that I am strong enough to handle this on my own. Once I enter the room, the first thing I notice is the striking white walls. And when I say white, I mean white. I have never witnessed walls that white before. There are two twin size beds perfectly centered under the large window. The wood is a dark cherry in color, there is a matching night stand between them. To my left there is a small dresser and closet, and to the right is the exact same setup only there is also a bathroom door. I decide the right side will be mine, I want to be close to the bathroom so that I do not have to walk across the room to get to it in the middle of the night.

After only three trips to and from the car I have successfully retrieved all my boxes, now to unpack. I bought a new bedding set specifically for college, it’s the brightest pink one I could find. The pink comforter is covered with bright orange and yellow flowers and the matching sheets are a vibrant hot pink. It almost hurts my eyes to look at it but I will have to get used to it. It’s definitely a huge change from my chocolate brown and turquoise bed set I’m used to at home. I chose some bright pink flower paintings from Target and some cute flower throw pillows. Satisfied with my awesome decorating skills, I flop down onto the bed and close my eyes. I’m pretty sure I had drifted off to sleep since the sound of my phone ringing on the nightstand nearly made me jump out of my skin.

Hey Mac, I answer.

Hey kiddo, how are you settling in?

I’m fine Mac, really. I tell him in my best big girl voice, I’m already unpacked and everything.

After a few awkward moments of silence, Mac finally speaks. I know you are kiddo, I just-I just worry about ya, you know? He laughs, but I can tell it was a fake laugh.

How’s dad? I ask bracing myself for the answer.

Uh-you know, he’s good. Today is a good day so far, Mac says.

Good days are becoming less frequent for my dad, I had witnessed only a few before I left. Good days are ones when he wakes up smiling, days when he wakes up not remembering any of the past events from the last couple of years. Bad days on the other hand, well those are days I wish I could wipe from my mind. Days when he wakes up yelling, storming around the house demanding his bottle of whiskey. He’s been known to slam his fist through the kitchen wall and break picture frames on the fireplace mantel.

That’s great. We’re lucky to have you Mac, really. I respond, meaning every word, he had been a true hero for me. "How’s