FanStory.com - The Decision by Lea Tonin1

In the cities where I lived most of life, no one can live here by themselves anymore. It's not financially feasible for most of us. A two bedroom apartment, we would be very lucky to see it for less than six hundred thousand dollars. Unfortunately, my uncle has a serious cockroach and rat problem. These rats now invade my space. Go through my drawers, up in my clothes and run across me when I sleep. I can hear them in every wall around me every night. When I walk into the house they scatter, so do the cockroaches. The rat man came yesterday. He went and plugged multiple holes underneath the house and all the many holes that were on the perimeter of the house. They actually dig through gravel and cement to get underneath. So he plugged them all up, laid out traps. He then said there were dead rats down there and that the live ones have gone up into the insulation to have babies. The insulation, which runs through the house, has got rats. They are everywhere throughout the walls and now they are stuck and the smell is getting bad.

I'm truly sorry if people are offended by my writing this. This just happens to be first and foremost on my mind before I begin my journey back. I think it's a good idea in some ways to let people know how I'm doing and what I'm doing today. Not just yesterday but here and now.

In order to dispose of the little critters, we have to tear down walls. The owner will probably not want to do that. He will want to tear it down and build himself an nice new duplex and get himself three times the money he gets now. It's all the excuse he needs.

I'm running, I'm free, I'm out, I'm headed up the street. But where am I going?

I had no idea. I knew it couldn't be too far, I had people and items to collect. If I can convince Mrs. D that is.

'Think now. Where can I go? There's a playground a few blocks from here...I'll head there.'

*I was at the park within five minutes. I sat down at a picnic table to gather my thoughts. I knew I was on the verge of tears. If I let slip that little bit of control I had left, I would surely break down and cry.***

A deep well of feeling came over me. One that frightened me more than anything. Desperation... Despair. That's an out of control feeling. To not know where you're headed or in what direction and at a loss as to what to do next. That's panic, that's desperation.

I sat on the park bench looking down at my socked feet. They were soaked through and I had two ice bricks at the end of my legs. It was fall at that time and not alot of sunny days left.

At the back of the D's house, ran railway tracks. A small strip of greasy bushes lined the railway behind and ahead. Close enough to watch the D's house and wait for Mr. D to leave. There was no way I could walk up to the front door knock while he was there, to wait was my only choice.

I took off my socks and rung them out, then put them back on my feet. I ran my fingers through my hair. I began to make my way through the park trying to stay on the high ground for my socks sake but, it was useless.

Wet was wet.

Getting through the park, I started to descend towards the railroad tracks. I walked along gingerly and picked my way over stones until I saw the back of the D's house.

I came around the end of the fence and walked up to the front door.

I could hear nothing inside it was completely silent. I knocked again. Still silence no sounds of kids running around. But the warning bells on my head were ringing loudly! I turned the handle, the door opened.

It was dark...a familiar smell was in the air.

The coppery smell of blood.