I was alone. I was finally alone. I couldn't believe it. I had asked permission to leave the house as cordially as ever, and Mother allowed to leave to leave. I told her I would like to walk around the neighborhood and maybe hike over to the shop a few blocks down, over the railroad tracks. She was unopposed to it and let me out the door with only the instruction "Have fun." I would certainly do that.
I wasn't planning on returning this time. I was through with their abuse and mistreatment. My leaving would come to them as a devastation. Mother might kill herself, though I know she slowly is already. She stopped renewing her medicine a few weeks ago, but Father doesn't know. He wouldn't do anything about it besides yell at her some more and possibly beat us. All of his reactions to anything could be categorized as either verbal or physical abuse, actually. Father would be mad, if I did not return the moment he expected. Murderously mad. I've only seen him that mad three times before, and one of those times he almost killed my entire family. That was the time I cut my own hair with scissors. Everybody complimented me on my haircut, but it still came as an embarrassment to him. You see, I'm not even allowed to own scissors since he still sees me as that worthless toddler he never meant to have, cutting her sister's doll's hair. I'm not responsible enough to use them, but I keep several pairs hidden regardless. He was red-faced and demon-eyed and could barely breathe in blind rage... I cannot bring my mind to recall such things at this moment.
For now I am at the corner of the street I live on and Walla Way. I turn back to take one last look at my house. The wind was animating the trees around me, commanding them to dance in a way. The rush of the leaves was pleasing to my ear, and I enjoyed the feeling of the cool, steady breeze against my face. Seldom did I get to go outside like this and enjoy nature. I loved nature. Someday, I'll go outside as often as I like without fear of being beaten for some insanity. Really, my father is a control freak, and if I make any decisions on my own without him "thinking for me" as he puts it, he breaks down. He never allows me to go outside because it's more difficult for him to track me that way. Usually I just stay in my room. Well, I always stay in my room, unless I'm being yelled at to be someplace else. It's small, cramped, and in poor condition, but I have a window. I get yelled at if I open the blinds, but sometimes I do when I feel I won't be caught and look at at the trees as they do their dance. Sometimes I can pretend I'm out among them, not trapped at all. and here I am. 
I threw my head back and searched for the uppermost branches among the early stars. They danced the most violently in a mad frenzy. I turned the corner and jogged until I was far out of sight and jogged further, all the way to the store. 
"You're out late, Nephe. Where's your family?
"I'm here by myself today," Nephele told the boy at the register.
"If you don't say so? I'm about to get off...you wouldn't want to hang, would you?"
"Oh, please. There's a lot I'd like to tell you, actually."
__
"Now then. You had something to tell me?"
"I'm leaving my house. I'm not going back."
"Your family still rough? I'm sorry to hear that. That isn't why you're always so bruised, is it? Because if it is, I'm going to kill that creep..."
"No! Daemon! Please don't do that. Besides, I cannot take one more year with them. I'm having trouble managing my self-injury and all the things said to me that linger in my mind for months. I fear for what I'll do if I stay."
"Where will you stay?" 
"I don't particularly have a place yet... I figured if I died out here, if would be safer.
"You can always stay at my place," Daemon put an arm around her.
"You can't be serious. You--"
"No, in fact, I insist you stay with me. I am sick of your family and how they treat you. If they take one unfair step towards you, I'm reporting the Hell out of your family tree. You're too precious, Nephe, you know that?Thank you so much for helping me. I do love you very much, Nephele. You are so beautiful..."
"St--stop it."
"Do you have your things?" 
"No. I'm not bringing anything besides my phone. I want to part as cleanly as I'm capable of."
This seemed to amuse Daemon in some way. "Of course."