Chapter 13 - THE SECURE SANCTUARY OF SHADOWS
An unmarked police car drove me,
to the secret women's shelter house,
it was located in a quiet area,
disguised as a normal family home,
with a high wooden fence around,
and security cameras on the porch,
the director was a kind woman,
her name was Sarah Jenkins,
she welcomed me with open arms,
showing me to a small clean room,
with a single bed and a desk,
you are safe here Emily,
she told me with a soft voice,
the doors are locked with codes,
the police patrol this street often,
Logan cannot hurt you here,
I sat on the soft mattress,
feeling the tension leave my muscles,
for the first time in twenty-four hours,
I could finally breathe without fear,
but the silence was strange to me,
I was used to the shouting,
the slamming of heavy doors,
the constant feeling of danger,
that had defined my young life,
I looked at the window pane,
the curtains were thick and dark,
blocking the outside view completely,
I lay down and closed eyes,
falling into a deep heavy sleep,
uninterrupted by terrifying nightmares,
waking up late the next morning,
feeling a bit stronger inside,
the pain in my scalp was dull,
the staples were holding fast,
but the emotional wounds remained,
deep and raw in my soul,
as I realized I was a refugee,
May you like
hiding from my own flesh and blood,
in a city I used to call home.
