The end of an Era

It was finally time. The day I had been waiting for my whole life…the day I finally get to leave Byrnesville and start over, away from all the drama of my family. A place where I can be myself without looking over my shoulder constantly.

I pulled up to the office building I had worked at since graduating college 3 years ago. I would miss my coworkers but I knew I had to make some sacrifices to get this plan to work.

I drove to the lot and parked my car in the usual spot I always did. Leslie pulled next to me and smiled as she rolled down the window, "Morning, Rachael! Ready to finish the week? So glad it's Friday I NEED this weekend so badly."

"Morning, Leslie. Agreed 100%. I'll be right in I have to make a call. See you inside!"

"Oh ok. See you!"

I pulled out my cell phone and pretended to be calling someone.

"Hi, what do you want? I keep getting strange messages from this number."

I used my peripheral to see if Leslie was still in her car with her window down. I could see her pretending to get something from her bad but it seemed like she wasn't really looking for anything.

"Listen I will meet you quickly but then I have to start work and you need to leave me alone!"

I slammed the phone shut and pretended to look nervous. I saw Leslie look up with a look of concern.

"Are you okay, Rach? That sounded scary."

"Yea, I'll be fine. I just have something I need to take care of." I said, as I pulled up my window and out of the spot I was in.

She was the eyewitness I needed before I disappear.

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I was on the open road miles away from my hometown but I knew that wasn't enough. Once everyone realized I was missing I would have the real adrenaline rush. I had enough money to get me by for a few months until I found a new job. I also had hair dye, makeup, and a totally new wardrobe to change Rachael Mardow into Emma Gladstone. I pulled into the Super 8 I would be staying in for the night and checked in. Once I got to the room I began bleaching my dark hair.

I checked the new phone I had bought while the bleach set in . I had tossed my old phone by the pier cause I knew it could be traced if it was found, so it would throw the cops and my parents through another loop. I checked a few website for jobs near the remote town I had planned on staying and applied to a few posts that were for waitress jobs. I needed something different than office work if I wanted to lay low as my passport wouldn't work for a background check at an office job.

I took the bleach off and stared at the person staring back at me in the mirror. It felt like someone else as I stared in shock and disbelief that it worked so well. It was perfect.