Come on please stop! Ugh yet another truck passed me, and I was exhausted from walking, crying, screaming. I was tired from it all. I walked a little longer before I saw lights approaching me from behind. I quickly turned to see the lights of an 18-wheeler slowly approaching me.
Hey, you know it's dangerous to be walking on the side of the road right, the man said from the truck. I know! Get in, he said pointing to the door. I cautiously grabbed the handle and hoisted myself into the truck before closing the door. Thank you! You look a little young to be on this route, most of the girls on this route are way older. Most of the girls? You think you're the first one to hitchhike on this road, he said smiling a little. Are you a serial killer? Do I look like one? There is no set look for serial killers. If that's the case, are you one, he said looking at me. Really do I look like I have the capacity to do that? Not really, but you asked so I had too as well. Now that we got all of the pleasantries out the way, I am Jake, what are you doing out on this highway? It's a long story. We got time; the next big city isn't for another 2 hours. The next big city? Las Vegas, Nevada that's where you were going right. Yeah, exactly where I was going. I had no clue where I was going. All I know is that I had to get out of Texas and quick at that. It was one too many times of my father getting drunk and beating me and thinking that the one person that I could trust would take care of me. I was sadly mistaken when he took what little money, I had left me stranded in a roadside hotel in the middle of nowhere.
So, what's your name? Huh! Your name, what is it? Jade! Like the moon stone. Yeah, something like that I said nodding as he spoke. It was crazy I felt safer in his truck than I had the whole time I'd been gone. He told me about his daughter Cassandra and how her dream is to be the prima ballerina. He was working hard to make her dream come true, but it was still difficult being that he had to work and couldn't be at home all the time. Before I knew it the 2-hour drive was up, and he was pulling into a rest stop hotel. We're here? Yup we're here good ole Las Vegas he said cutting off the truck. Thank you again, I said gathering my stuff. It's no problem, as I told you, I am a father and I'd never want to see my daughter out here like this. Not everyone is as lucky to have you as a father. Once I was out the truck, I went to walk away but he called me back. Jade, why don't you let me get you a room so you can rest and get freshened up. You don't have to do that. It's ok I want to he said smiling motioning for me to follow him into the motel. I couldn't believe that he was actually getting me a room, before we parted ways, he gave me a few dollars to get something to eat and told me to take care of myself before we parted ways.
Once I got settled in, I finally decided to make the call that I was dreading and that was to call my mom. I didn't want to leave, I really didn't, but I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't take the treatment from a man that wasn't even my father. He was my stepfather, my mother married him 2 years to the day after my father left and moved to a different part of town with his secretary. I remembered growing up with my father and everything in my world seemed so perfect and then one day it was over. He was gone, and my mom decided to move to Lubbock for a new start at life. I don't know why she thought that was the best place to go for a new start, but she packed up me and my sisters and moved us out there. It wasn't that bad; I mean it was a small country town and at least we were able to have a little more freedom than back in Dallas. But it was also strange as well. The people out here were different.
Hello! Hello! Mom. Oh my god Jade where are you? I am ok mom. That's not what I asked you, where are you? How are the girls I said ignoring her question? They're ok they miss you. Jade please just...I couldn't take it any more mom. I know baby I am sorry. I am so sorry, please just come home. I can't, he'll just continue to do the same thing to me, and I won't have my sisters seeing that. He doesn't mean it. I am sure that's what he's telling you, but until he puts out a cigarette in your arm you won't know how I feel. So, this is my fault that he did all of that stuff to you? If I'd just stayed with your father, you'd be home right. Well, that's not how life works little girl, and your father isn't the man that you think he is either. I never said that mom, I said I couldn't take it, whatever works for you is fine. You're still a child Jade. I am 17, I can take care of myself. Are you in Dallas with your father? I'll talk to you later mom, I love you. Jade don't hang up! Bye mom I said before hanging up the phone. I know it seemed harsh that I hung up on her, but if I didn't, I'd cave and end up going back home suffering in silence. I know I am young, but I can handle myself and I will take care of myself.
5 days later...
I'll do anything, I just need a place to stay please! Sorry we need the room. Ple...I let out a deep breath as I gathered the little stuff I had and began walking away from the hotel. I walked for 15 minutes before someone pulled up next to me. You need a ride? Just to the strip. Get in, she said, unlocking the door for me. Thank you! Girl, you know how dangerous it is to walking on the side of the road like that. I did, my car broke down and I was just trying to get into town. You couldn't call anyone? No, I couldn't, I said looking out the window as we rode into town. I honestly had no idea where to tell her to drop me off, I am not from here, I don't know anything about Vegas or the strip. So as soon as I saw Denny's, I told her she could drop me there. You sure, what about your car? It's fine I can use the phone here and call for a tow truck. Ok girl, well be careful she said before driving off. I looked in my wallet to see how much money I had so I could at least get something to eat for the day. 20 dollars that's better than nothing I mumbled to myself as I walked into the dinner. Party of 1? Yes ma'am! You wanna sit at the bar or a table. A table is fine. Follow me she said, motioning for me to follow her towards some booths along the windows. Here you go, I'll be back to take your order in a minute, the lady said sitting the menu down in front of me. I looked around the restaurant noticing that it wasn't that packed but there was a handful of people in there.
The waitress came back a few minutes later to take my order. You ready to order? Yes, can I get a cheeseburger and fries. You want that burger all the way? Yes, no onions though. And what can I get you to drink. I'll take a Coke. Ok she said grabbing the menu and walking away. Thank you. I needed to get myself together, I don't have any money to get a room, so I had to find a place to stay tonight, or I'd be sleeping on the street.
"I can't believe you're actually living in Vegas now, I thought for sure you'd come back to LA! I wanted to but things changed. Yeah, you still following him around waiting for him to make you a star. It's not even about that, I just... I can't leave now. Why? You wouldn't understand, it's just that I need to stay right now, but its not to say I won't ever move back I miss us hanging out and going out on the town. I miss that too. I was sure she would come back, and you wouldn't be alone. We both know that LA was too fast for her and the only reason she came is because we wanted to move."
I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but I was listening to the girls in the next booth talk. I take from the way they were speaking that one of them was from LA and that the other had left to come to Vegas. I tried not to stare but one of them caught my attention. She looked so familiar like someone I'd seen on tv, but her hair color was different. I guess she caught me staring at her because before I knew it we had made eye contact again. I quickly looked away before making it more awkward than it already was. I spent the rest of the time staring out the window trying not to bring attention to myself, cause I definitely wasn't looking for any type of conflict. A few moments later the waitress brought out my food. Here you go she said putting the food down for me. Thank you I said before saying a quick prayer before eating my food.
Watching all the hustle and bustle of the strip made me think about if I really wanted to stay out here or try to make my way back to Lubbock. I shouldn't have left the way I did , but I couldn't stay in that house any longer and let him treat me like trash, all because I wasn't biologically his. I mean come on he knew when started dating my mom she had children, why would he think she would just abandon me. Or maybe he was hoping that she would appease him. My mother wasn't the brightest, but there was one thing she always told us girls and that was that she loved us and would do anything to protect and provide for us. In all honesty that's really the only reason she got with him and moved us out to Lubbock. He had money and promised to get us a big house with lots of land where we could play and be raised in a decent environment, because Dallas wasn't a good place to raise children. He made it seem as if we lived in the hood or something, we lived in a nice neighborhood and granted it wasn't safe to walk at night, it also wasn't crime ridden either. And my father could come and see us whenever he wanted to. That fact alone probably bothered him the most, that my father would drop by the house whenever to see me and my sister. It also probably didn't help that he was 6'4 and black either. My mother had a type that's for sure, but it didn't include white guys, who barely graduated high school with anger issues either. No, she liked her men with some flavor in them, which resulted in her having 2 beautiful mixed daughters.
