Free I Know What Love Is by Whitney Bianca Page A

two fobs for his truck, and three keys that looked like house keys. I tried the first, sliding it into the deadbolt, my fingers shaking so bad I was positive he would be able to hear me. The lock didn't turn. Steeling myself against the disappointment, I tried again with the next key.
    The lock clicking open was the sweetest sound I'd ever heard. I swallowed my sigh of relief and moved on to the lock on the cheap knob. It was a simple turning lock, and within minutes, I cracked the wood door open and slipped into the dark garage. I pulled it up lightly behind me, not wanting to risk making noise by shutting it completely. Butterflies attacked my insides as I slipped my boots on, one by one.
    I only had one chance. I knew I'd probably only get about two minutes head start. I lifted a shaking hand and let it hover over the garage door opener. Once I pressed that it, I knew he'd hear the rumbling and screeching of the mechanism. He would wake up and I'd have to run like I'd never run before. There was no other option.
    I took a deep breath. I was as ready as I'd ever be.
    I slammed my finger down on the button.
     
    *****
     
    The air was cool as I took off down the dark road. My boots pounded the pavement as I ran down the center of the street, my hair streaming behind me. Houses dotted his street, and a few porch lights were on, but I didn't stop. I just wanted to get the hell out of there, get as far away from him as I could. I knew I didn't have much time.
    At the end of the street, I slowed, deciding which way to go. There were no cars on the road and I made a left, running back the way I assumed we'd come. I wasn't totally sure where I was, although I was pretty sure I was on the outskirts of Austin. He hadn't taken me that far. I ran along the sidewalk, dipping in and out of the glare of the streetlights. I prayed for a car to drive by, but none came.  I ran a few more blocks and then slowed to a walk to catch my breath, glancing behind me as I did. There was no one there.
    I wondered if the garage door opening had woke him up or not. It sounded so loud to my ears that I thought the whole damn neighborhood must have heard it.  I shook off the fear and told myself that I had to keep going. I couldn't worry about him. As far as I knew, he was still asleep on the couch. I pulled my hair off of my sweaty neck and tied it into a knot on top of my head. I didn't know what I was going to do, exactly. I didn't know where I was or how long it would take me to get home.
    All I knew was that I was free.
    It was at that moment that I remembered my purse was at The Blue Mermaid. I didn't have my cell phone or my keys or my wallet. I didn't know how I was going to get into my apartment once I got home. I didn't have time to cry, even though I wanted to. I just had to keep moving.
    I was about a mile away when I felt him behind me. I don't know how to explain it other than a I could feel a shiver run up my spine. My stomach dropped and I forced myself to look over my shoulder. Sure enough, when I glanced back, I saw him. He was barefoot, in jeans, running down the center of the street. Fear froze time, and I had a strange vision of him as a high school football star, running for the touchdown and basking in the adoration of the crowd. It was Texas; every boy played football at one time or another. He had the body for it, that was for sure.
    Strange, the thoughts that run through your mind when you're paralyzed with fear.
    I took off, a scream escaping my lips and echoing across the quiet, dark landscape. I ran into the cornfield on my left, the dry stalks smacking me in the face. I felt the tears on my cheeks, but I didn't bother swiping them away. I tripped twice; both times I got back up and kept going, despite the bruises on my knees and the scrapes on my palms. I didn't know which way I went, I just kept going, swerving right and then left and then right again. When my throat was raw and I could hardly breath, I slowed to a stop