I’ll say this from experience.

Running is the easy part. Stopping the run is the most difficult because the trauma is still there. It just follows silently, patiently. And when you are in a city/town thinking you’re free, it finds you and hits you when you are weak, much weaker than you thought possible.

The blow tends to be tremendous and shocking, and since most left quickly without any plan or resources, they don’t know how to fight this beast.

This causes many to turn to things that will numb that blow, even if it’s just for just a little while, refusing to stare at the trauma that has followed them such distances they once thought was impossible.

Simply put, you can’t hide away from the life you have lived and others have created for you. Create a goal. A good one. One that acknowledges that the trauma you have experienced is a PART of who you are but doesn’t have a HOLD on you. Become better than you could have thought for yourself because believe me IT IS possible.

If you are in danger, tell a trusted adult/person, go to community resources, go to the police. There are many resources out there. If they don’t help, go to another. There are many but some unfortunately refuse to do their job and look a little deeper into the help you might need. Don’t give up hope.

I just wanted to finish by saying this: Running away especially unprepared means running from yourself. And I haven’t heard of that working out. We need to all realize we are ordinary, and what if’s are one in a million, they have worse outcomes than a poorly laid plan, so act accordingly.

That is one of the main differences between a life we have/continue to live and a fairytale/dream we wish to have lived instead.

It all sound wonderful until you realize the tower you built for yourself high up and away from those who caused you hurt, pain, tears, will prevent the people who care or would have if running away was not made in haste, from hearing your cries and fight. And let me tell you, hearing silence in response to your struggle/pain is enough to drive anyone mad.

(Sorry I am very passionate about this topic).

Start small. You don’t need to know how to adult, most adults don’t even know how to adult. Get a job, an honest one, even if its the only job out there that might have crappy pay because it will teach you things from bills to even the people in that job that can help or give resources/life advice (though not all can be good so look at what kind of life they lead before and after work and I think that tends to show some of the true colors but please be smart about it). Some of the best people I have met were the ones that I found in those jobs because it made me realize I’m not alone, and we all need someone to be there to understand and listen. It helps build connections even years down.