The rain fell,
Drip,
         Drip,
                    Splash,
Cold on her skin.

Almost soothing if not for the needles of pain each droplet sent thrilling along her body.

She became careful, drenched as she was, how long it would be before she could reach the warmth so often connected to safety, yet offered no such protection within her household. So she shuffled from tree trunk to tree trunk along the deserted street, cursing the sun for abandoning the sky and taking its precious light with it.

Why had she been so foolish?  She silently chided herself for her own stupidity. Why had she thought she could run? When in her whole life had she been independent enough to make it on her own. Every step had been carefully choreographed and planed in advanced. Every small bit of pleasure had been painstakingly fought and paid for, approved by her father. Signed and sealed, so neatly packaged for outward appearances.

Embittered by her own reality the Girl gave a small harsh laugh, filling it with enough twisted pain to send the small alley cat that had been taking shelter under a nearby car skittering into the distance.

She shivered slightly. Long since used to the creeping cold of wet cloths, it seemed her body wanted to remind herself that she was still alive. Still moving from tree to tree, this time being careful with her thoughts as well as her footsteps.

How good of the rain to cover up her tears, she thought, at least she wouldn't have to wipe away the tears slipping silently down her cheeks. She wouldn't have to place that plastic smile on her face and pretend to be other than as miserable as she looked.

At last she has reached her house, the building that held 15 years of memories, some of which still haunted her. It seemed so innocent. Stepping out from underneath the poplar growing in their front yard she caught a glimpse of her family through the window. Her little brother playing with his trucks, oblivious as all little children are when they're content. She envied and pitied him, how long before living in this place changed him too?  

Moving closer to the window she watched as her mother, her sister, moved from room to room. To anyone else they would look normal, happy, just like they should look, but she knew better. She could sense the tension in the air, the slight tremor in her younger sister's hands, the worry hidden in the hesitant way her mother set the table. Was he home yet she wondered? Maybe she could sneak back inside and pretend she was only hiding instead of really gone. But that couldn't work, not if he was home.  It would be worse than if she showed up at the front door.

Slowly, she turned her eyes upward, gazing at the weeping mass of clouds above her. She couldn't stay outside much longer, she was begging to lose the feeling in her extremities and secretly she wished that numbness would spread to her heart.
She would go inside. If she was lucky he wouldn't be there yet and if she wasn't, then later that night she would wish that the rain had washed her away along with her tears.