Chapter 15
A cop’s car and Joe arrived at the same time. The young Sergeant came in first and before he could even begin to ask me question, Joe took over and told the Young Sergeant to just run around because he will handle this because I was his sister-in-law and this was just minor family issue. I told the young Sergeant that I wanted to talk to him not Joe, but Joe insisted. The young Sergeant left (Darn me, I shouldn't have contacted stupid Joe!).
Now Joe told me to drive my car back home. So off I went and Joe followed. When we arrived in our driveway, Joe directed me to get few of my clothes for he was going to take me home to his house. I agreed since I would be safer in his house over his brother Jack (My Abusive Ex-husband).
I went inside packed a few of my clothes, grabbed my airline ticket on the bottom of the shoe rack (Remember, I hid the ticket from Jack the night, before he confiscate all of my identification documents). It was already 7:30am. I was supposed to be at the airport at 6am but I can’t leave now. My cousin who purchased the ticket; I’m sure at this time she was waiting and expecting me at the arrival airport. She has no idea that I won’t be there.
So I had checked everything what I could bring with me before leaving the hell house. I could not think of anything other than my identification documents but Jack must have brought it with him to his work because I couldn’t find it anywhere around the house. Being the house was so small, it was confirmed that Jack took it with him. My last resort was maybe Jack hid my documents underneath the sheet covered of my trunk (You know where you will find your spare tire!)
Joe was telling me to hurry up by now. I told him to give me just a few second. I just needed to check up on something at the back of my trunk. VIOLA! Behold and what I’ve found? A dozen of rifles and hunting guns! So, I was so astonished and was scared. Why would it be there? I quickly called Joe to check up on all of these guns to see if they were loaded and yes it was loaded, all of it!
You see how insane Jack was! This was the plot he created that I mentioned earlier that he would make sure I would go to Jail but he failed miserably. Jack intentionally loaded all of his guns and rifles and hid it all at the back of the trunk in hopes of if I ever run away from him using his car, he could report that the car was stolen then I could be locked up for a long time. Smart right? He would be able to do that since the car that I have been driving all along was in his name even though I was responsible for the monthly bill. But he doesn’t know that I was not going to do that; so again I outsmart him.
Anyways, so Joe took me to his house just a few miles away from Jack house. I left everything behind and got me just a few pairs of clothes. It was already 8am Saturday. Mind you that this was the hour that I was suppose to arrive at the arrival airport. Still, there was no way for me to contact my cousin to let her know that I won't be there but I had these feelings that I will find a way somehow.
Joe made some breakfast; it was perfect because I was starving since I haven’t had any in the last 12 hours since Jack confiscated my identification documents. After breakfast, Joe unhooked the phone from his living room and kitchen and instructed his 15 years old daughter to watch me making sure that I would call no one. Is that pretty lame? He was saying it to his daughter in front of my face. Joe then told me to go to one of their spare rooms and ordered me not to make any stupid move (He was giving me a hint not to use the phone).
While I was in the room it was the most uncertain moment that I have to deal with. I know I can do this! (I said to myself!). I had nobody but me, myself and I. As the saying goes “There’s always light at the end of the tunnel” right? This was my yet another ordeal I had to face. I had to be positive and make the best out of it and I need to focus on how to get away from the state I was in.
Later on that Saturday afternoon, Joe was outside the porch and talking to Jack on the phone but I can’t quite hear his voice, so I wasn’t sure if they were talking about me. By dinnertime, Joe’s family were having a dinner and did not invite me to eat with them. So I decided to just kneel down at the corner of the room and prayed all the way to midnight.
I was so frazzled by this time and hungry and I was still at the corner sitting on the floor with my head leaning on the bed. I got up and peeked outside my room toward the kitchen if someone was still awake. The living room was dark but I could see the glaring lights from the kitchen night-light. I then slowly walked out of my room went straight to the kitchen and scavenging whatever they had left from their last supper.
I found a slice of bread and orange juice. I gobbled the bread down quickly and drank the juice without stopping. Oh yeah, that’s how hungry I was! I went back to my room very quietly and went to bed that night. The next morning, which was Sunday, I woke up with the non-stop barking of the dog. I realized I had overslept; it had been already 11am.
I went to see the window to check why the dog was barking obnoxiously. I saw my male co-worker (My Filipina friend fiancé. He was God sent) outside the fence seemed to have been looking for me. I looked around; Joe and his family seem to just ignore him. So I went outside to check on him.
“How do you know that I’m here?” I said to my male coworker. He goes, “I kind of got the idea since you are not at your house and I saw your car was there but you're not so, I found this address by looking up your brother-in-law’s name on white pages. You were supposed to be at the airport yesterday. My fiancé told me the story about how abusive your husband to you and I just found out. I am sorry no man should ever treat his wife like that! So how are you? Are they treating you alright here?” I just nodded and started crying. I said to him while I was sniffling woefully, “Thank you for coming. It feels good when someone cares” He goes, “Is there anything I can help you with? You know if you really need to leave this state, I do have a car that I was about to donate it to the Salvation Army but you can have it.” I thanked him for his kindness but I can’t accept such a generous help. He goes, “Well, just keep this money. You will need it for travelling away from this state.” He handed me an envelope with $300 on it. I told him that I can’t accept it but he insisted. He left and told me to take care.
Even though that I was not with Jack anymore, if he finds that I do have money he will surely take it away from me. I quickly inserted the envelope in my waistline from my skirt. I did not want Joe to find out that I got $300 money now. I know for sure that Joe and Jack are singling me out by now. I don’t know their plans; whatever it is I got to be quick.
Another night passes by with no food; I was scavenging food again, doing the same thing from the night before. I felt a prisoner and was being watched.
By Monday morning, Joe knocked the door by 7am. I found out that I had to face Jack at the court. “What court?” I said to Joe. He goes, “Just be ready, we will meet Jack at the court by 10am.”
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