My name is Larry and I was 14 when I ran away from home. My mom and I argued constantly. One night it got so bad that she started hitting me. I couldn't take it any longer and I had to get out of there.
It was 2:00am when I opened my window and jumped out. When my feet hit the ground I ran as fast as I could. I was a little chubby then so I couldn't run very fast but fast enough to get away. I went to a nearby highway going south and I started to follow it. I hitched a ride with some truckers who let me off somewhere in Ohio. I had no money so I had to steal food to eat. I had no where to go so I just kept walking. At night I wrapped up in the blanket I brought and slept in the deep ditch that I had been walking in.
One day a police car pulled up beside me and a cop got out. He asked me where I was going and I said I was going to the next exit. That I had just got back from a sleepover and I was walking home. He told me to get in and I did. He pulled off on the next exit and asked me where my house was. I directed him to a nearby neighborhood. He asked which house and I looked around for a house that looked empty. I told him it was a house that looked as if no one was there. I got out of the car and he did too. He wanted to talk to my parents. I went up to the house and knocked hoping no one was there. I told the officer that my mom was at work. He gave me a long glare and said to keep off the highway. He back into his partol car and drove off. The instant he was out of sight I ran as fast as I could.
From then on I took side roads. I went through people's trash for food and slept anywhere I thought it was somewhat safe. This went on for weeks and I was weak and tried from walking. Then I came to Columbus OH. I was tired of runing and walking. I decided to get a job there. I got a job at a local used book store telling them that my family was in trouble and I needed some money to support them. They didn't ask for much info. I started working there full time for five dollars an hour. I was able to pay for my food for once and I slept in an old gas station that had been abandoned.
Eventually the people at the book store became suspisious of me and followed me home (the old gas station) one night. The next day they questioned me about it and I told them my story. One of the ladies, Donna, offered for me to stay at her house with her husband and 2 year old kid. I agreed and I was never happier. I slept on there sofa and ate dinners with them. They were really nice.
One night Donnas husband, Rick, asked me why I had ran away. I told him everything. He thought I should go back and work things out with my mom. Donna didn't want me going back to that situation again. The two started fighting and I decided that I should leave. I left them a long note explaining why I left and proper thank yous.
From that time on I continued living on the streets trying to avoid bad areas and people. I started stealing from gas stations again to eat and sleeping in parks and fields. Much of the land was just a long stretch of no where. I would often go days without food or water. I didn't really talk to anyone, I just kept going. I decided I would just go till I couldn't. I didn't know where I was going or anything. One thing was clear though is that my mom didn't make a bug effort to find me and I could never go back there.
I am now currently sitting in a library typing this up. I am still on the run and probably always will be. I celebrated my birthday on the streets and I'm 15 now.
I have to go now but I want to tell you all out there reading this that running away is a big mistake. If you want to throw your life away then run away but be aware that it is rough. And some people may not be as lucky as me. I never got into drugs or drinking and that's why I think I was able to survive for so long.
Good luck,
Larry
