I hurry into the kitchen and glance nervously around, hoping that what I heard was just the wind or some small animal outside. I hold my breath and listen for any sound coming from below.

Nothing.

I take a mental sigh of relief before turning off the timer and going to reach for the oven. As I pull out the pan I accidentally brush my arm slightly against the side of the oven. Jerking my arm back reflexively, I drop a majority of the food on the floor and hold back a curse word forming on my mouth. I run the burn under the cool water. As I bandage the burn I mutter to myself about what a klutz I am and how I shouldn't be so careless, when I hear a voice behind me.

"What happened to your arm?"

The voice is soft and gentle but it sends a cold sweat down my back. I didn't even hear her come upstairs, let alone enter the room. I don't turn around to answer her but instead look down at my burn which doesn't seem to hurt as much now.

"Nothing just a burn. It's a small one though." I try to keep my voice even and low. I can hear her footsteps approach closer as the wooden floor creaks slightly.

"It's not nothing if it's 'just a burn'." I see her extending her hand out, waiting expectantly. "Let me see."

I hesitantly offer my arm to which she takes and inspects in her ice cold grip.

"Hmm." Once she's satisfied she releases my arm and walks over to the spilled contents of the pan. "Make sure you clean this up thoroughly. I don't want any rats in here."

I nod silently and begin to carefully clean up the still warm mess. "Come on now is your time to ask her about leaving." I shake my head at myself for thinking such foolish thoughts, but my thoughts keep pestering me until I feel like I might be able to muster up the courage to ask her. I brace myself for the worse. "But really the worst she could say is no. Right?"

"I was just thinking," I start slowing, still cleaning up. "I turned 18 not too long ago and most people- actually everybody's legally an adult at this time-"

"You missed a spot." She points out.

I'm only confused for a second before realizing my mistake and correcting it then continuing. "And I've read things about the outside that are very interesting and they just have me wondering about what the real world is like. And maybe I'd like to find out what it's like."

I look expectantly at my mother. She has her eyes closed and seems to be in thought like she hasn't even heard a word I've said. But as if she felt me watching her, waiting for an answer, she opens her eyes and stares at something far off that I can't see.

"The real world? The real world is not as pleasant as you may think it to be, Miles. It's greedy and selfish and the people out there- well the people out there aren't looking to be your friend. Those stories that you read are just that- stories. The books you read just add an untrue glamor to it. People out there hurt people like you without any consideration for what they're doing, and as your mother, it is my job to protect you from people like that. Do you understand that?"

"But you might not know what it's like now. People could be-"

Cutting me off with her icy glare she repeats in a stone cold voice, "Do you understand that."

Knowing the conversation is done for now and most possibly forever, I nod grimly and swallow hard before quietly replying, "Yes, mother."

Satisfied with this answer, she resumes her voice to its proper level. "Good." With that she seemingly glides gracefully from the kitchen followed with a frigid breeze behind her.

I bit my lip to keep from shivering at the sudden chill that fills the room. After clean up, I grab a cold soak bandage and head back to my room. Not feeling hungry I decide to go to bed early.

I try to read one of my favorite books but find myself feeling more desperate to experience everything that I'm reading. I finally give up and close the book. Turning off the light, I try to fall asleep but remain wide awake with thought.

"This isn't fair. This isn't where I want to be for the rest of my life. I want to explore and see new things and people. But how?"

That's when a risking thought enters my mind. I try to push it away but after a while the thought sticks in my mind and I'm dead set on it.

"I have to leave. Tonight. I'll leave tonight and I won't look back. I'll never look back and start a new life on my own in the real world."