Prologue

I watched as both my best friend and my brother dragged Craig out of my apartment, my hand covering my mouth. My heart slowly calmed down from the fright that Steven brought with him, finally bringing the attention to how crazy that man was. It was hit the head of the nail and I finally put my foot down, finalizing that she needed to get away from Craig. Both her best friend, Matt, and her brother, Rashid, wanted to throw a party when I told them, saying that I finally came to my senses.

I guess Craig didn't like the fact that I broke up with him through a phone while sitting between Rashid and Matt in my apartment. Either he is an idiot or he didn't care, but Craig literally burst the door to my apartment down before seeing that I wasn't alone. For some reason, he thought he could take care of two grown men, one of them would be beginning his first day in the police force in coming Monday.

It didn't take too long for the police to show up and have Craig arrested. I watched him being shoved inside the police cruiser as Rashid stood beside me. I wonder if he is going to "I told you so" me but all he did was wrap his arm around my shoulders and squeezed. Matt came and explained that tomorrow I can go to the police station and file a restraining order; that Craig might be offer community service for his punishment.

"I don't care what his punishment is," I said, clenching my hands into fists, "I just don't want him near me ever again."

Matt was right. It took several days for all the papers to be filed and to get a new door fixed under the glare of the landlord who wasn't too happy that it was broken in the first place. After everything was finalized, I had decided that Seattle wasn't where I want to be anymore. I wanted to move. Of course, Rashid and Matt were against that, throwing out all the arguments they could find.

"Where will you go, Sumi?" Matt asked, looking worried. I smiled, sheepishly. "You don't know yet, huh?"

"You do realize that I just got this job. I can't leave it." Rashid argued, looking at her, imploring. "I can't just drop it and go to a new city."

"I am not asking you to. I want to go by myself and stay by myself. You guys can't follow me around anymore. I am not a kid anymore. What happened with Craig opened my eyes and made me stronger." Hopefully.

"So, you are saying we just let you go, all by yourself, to a place you don't even know?" Matt asked, incredulous. I simply nodded. "Sumira!"

"Look, I narrowed it down to the west coast. California or Nevada or Idaho. I have been looking up towns with low apartments and workplaces." I argued back, indicating towards my desk which was filled with printouts of places. "I will choose a town, call them from here and rent out an apartment." I paused then sighed. "I just want to get away from here for a while. It won't be permanent; I will come back."

Rashid sighed, running his hand through his dark brown hair. "So, which are the towns you didn't eliminate?" he asked, slowly, standing up, walking towards my desk.

Matt gaped at my older brother and I hurried up before he could say anything to convince Rashid otherwise. "Either Charming, California or Las Vegas, Nevada." I answered, standing beside him. "Charming is a small town, away from the city life or go live in another city like Las Vegas? I am leaning more towards Charming because the rent over there is cheaper than Vegas. It will take me nine to eleven hours to get to Charming than sixteen hours to Vegas."

"You going by plane?" Matt asked, finally standing next to me.

"No, I will be driving. BUT there are great motels along the way so I will rest and eat. Don't worry. I thought about this thoroughly. I just have to call the realtor at Charming and get myself an apartment then go there." I said, picking up the printed paper with the number of the realtor written in red pen.

"So you choose Charming. It better be charming or else, I will personally come and haul your ass out of there." Rashid warned, his voice low and threatening. She just gave him a comforting smile and hugged him. This will be a new life; away from Craig and also away from the protection of her older brother, a married older brother. She can't expect him to leave his family to protect her. No, she said to herself, this time around, I will protect myself.