It's times like this that you cherish the most. Sitting here while the sun sets, hand in hand with the person you feel safest with while the cool wind blows through your hair. I know I am going to have to pay the price later for this, but at the end of all of this I know it's worth the pain.

"Sydney, let's run away. Right now. Let's get out of here." he begged. We've had this conversation multiple times. I know he just wants to help but there's no reasonable way out of this mess that was given to me by whatever God is out there.

I heard the patio door swing open harder than it has in a while off in the distance as I touched his cheek, "One day, we will. I promise you that." I kissed him passionately right before pushing him away and signaling him to run like there is no tomorrow.

"Where are you, Sydney? You know you aren't allowed out here during this time." I heard my dad call off in the distance. He sets some pretty strict rules on when I am allowed to go outside of the house without him and me being out here while the sun is setting is probably something that will set him off. I quickly wiped away my tears as I stood up, the corn field still shielding him from me, "Sydney! Get your ass in here, little girl!" he shouted even louder. I wasn't scared of him anymore at this point in my life. I was dealing with abuse now for 17 years. One more year to go and I can get out of this hell.

As I walked up to the patio, I see my tall lanky father standing there with a rifle strapped to him, "What in God's name took you so long and where the hell have you been? I swear if you were with that shit head from down the street, we're going to have some issues." he said as he grabbed me by the arm and pulled me inside to the dining room area.

"You know what you get tonight." he said as he pulled out a glass cup from the fridge, "Thanks to you I'll have to buy a new set of these!" he shouted as he smashed the glass on the ground.

"You don't have to do this. We can just let it go."

"Let it go, Sydney? You want me to let it go? Let THIS go." he said with anger in his voice as he broke another glass on the ground.

"Dad, I still have scabs on my knees from the other night. Please just-" I was interrupted by him shoving me to the ground, forcing me to walk on my knees. I could feel my previous wounds opening up, getting specs of blood all over the floor, my knees screaming and begging for me to stop.

He grabbed my ear and pulled me close, "Break my rules again and see what happens."

Can I wait a year for this to end? Even then, does this really end after I manage to escape or will I forever be on the run from this monster? As I slowly continue to move, tears running down my hot cheeks as I grunt in pain, I see him take the rifle off himself and set it down on the table.

"And guess who will be cleaning up this mess after this session is over? I can tell you that it definitely won't be me." he said as he walked to the fridge. I always told myself I would never make a big move, but this might be my time if there ever was one. As he opened up the fridge door, I dove for the rifle on the kitchen table, blood dripping down my legs that were now gashed open.

As he closed the fridge door, I see the anger build up in his eyes as he put his hands up in the air, rifle pointed directly at him.

"Gosh, I have to stop getting blood all over these hardwood floors...."