Matilda's Escape
Neglected and abused, 16-year-old Matilda escapes her father's violent home. With bruises covering her body and a fresh knife wound, she hits the road with no destination in mind, only the desperate need to leave her past behind. Her distant, wealthy older brothers, who left years ago, might be her only hope, but she hates them for abandoning her. Can she survive on her own, or will fate force a confrontation with the family she despises?
Alone, bruised, and with a knife wound carved into her arm, 16-year-old Matilda sped away from the house she'd always known as home. The truck was hers now, a small victory in a life filled with pain.
She didn't know where she was going, just that she had to get away. The image of her father, knife in hand, flashed in her mind. The pain in her stomach and arm was a constant reminder of the life she was leaving behind.
Hours later, the rain started to fall as darkness settled. Her stomach growled, and the fuel gauge dipped low. Spotting a lonely diner on the side of the road, she pulled over, the small 'ding' of the door announcing her arrival into a temporary haven from the storm outside and the storm within.
