With so much nervousness and my heart racing, I awoke early in the morning and began my plan to leave Standford and the so-called “glamorous life” behind.

I made sure Standford was out cold, and thankfully I had packed my bag the night before.

I also called one of my friends from the diner I used to work at to let her know I would be staying with her.

Surprisingly, I had no issues there.

I am not going to lie. I am scared as to what I am going to do once I leave, but one thing is clear: I can’t stay here.

I can’t continue in this hell. Funny how something I wanted so much just wasn’t what I thought.

I gasp when I think of all the things I have lost.

For most, it would probably be about the fortune or the money.

For me, it’s my innocence and how I can’t even look in the mirror anymore without hating the woman I have become.

Damn men, especially the ones who took my hopes and dreams and bashed them all to hell.

I am not sure when I will be able to recover... or if I ever will.

I need to ask God for forgiveness for losing my way and beg my Ma and Pa to take me back.

I had a good life with them, and then I turned my back on them and my brothers and sisters.

No time to dwell on this Eliza.

You need to leave now.

I walk out the door as quietly as I can.

Standford has my letter right right under the lamplight where he keeps his wallet.

It is a good thing I took the money out last night.

Besides, after everthing he put me through, it is the least he could do.

Still, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions as I close the door. Not for leaving him or this life, but for realizing that being a star is not what I thought it would be.

I was so selfish, thinking only of myself.

Well, it is time to go.

30 minutes later I arrived at Karen’s door.

I am so grateful for my friend. I appreciate her letting me stay with her for a few days.

“Eliza, please come in,” she said, stepping back and holding the door for me. As I entered I could see Karen's shocked looked as she gazed at me while trying to hold her tears. Then suddenly, she embraced me with a hug.

"Oh, Eliza you look so tired. Have you slept at all?"

I could see how Karen noticed the large circles under my eyes.

"Not really." Then I looked down and began to tear up.

If she only knew how the nightmares keep me up.

I hugged her back.

“Thank you so much, Karen," I said as she closed the door behind me.

“Do not worry, Eliza, I am here for you."

“You are too kind," I said while drying up my tears.

“I missed working with you at the diner, " said Karen.

Karen was always one of the kindest people I worked with and we always hung out after work.

“Yes, me too.”

After speaking with her for awhile, I agreed to make plans to book a ticket to go back home.

“I think you should do it as soon as you can, Eliza.”

“You are right.”

“If these men did all these horrible things to you it is just not safe.”

As she walked away, her words echoed through me. I sat up in bed crying and thinking about everything. Karen seemed to understand. Then it all became so clear.

She is right. It is now or never.