After having lived the same excruciating life day in and day out for several years, I woke up one morning and I just couldn't do it anymore.
When being neglectfully passed on from one foster home to another no longer felt like an option, I was hellbent on making an escape. Having been trapped in the foster care system for almost a decade, I was simply tired of being pushed around and treated unjustly. I was then seventeen and about to be out of the system in a year anyway but it seemed as though it would be a year too long. I just knew that I had to get away but I didn't know how.

I was walking to the grocery store around the corner to get milk and eggs for my foster family which would later cause me to be late to school. I entered the store with a look of despair imprinted on my face. I was picking up the eggs when I heard a woman standing close-by talking about a new airlines that were selling tickets at a surprisingly low cost. As soon as I heard the news of the special offer, I knew what I must do. Without hesitating for a second, I marched up to her and politely asked for details. Seeing my unusually obvious eagerness, she smiled and handed me the flyer with the special offer.

After purchasing the groceries, I rushed to the my foster home, went to my room and relentlessly started counting the little money I had managed to save up over the years. It wasn't much but it would be just enough. I could feel the adrenaline in my blood and I knew I was acting insane but regardless, I was determined to do it. I put my very few belongings including my money into my school bag and I headed for the airport.

The bus ride to the airport couldn't have seemed any longer. When I finally got there, I ran to the counter and bought a one  way ticket to a small city on the other side of the country. The flight was a couple hours away and in the time that I had to wait for it, I never once overthought my decision. I knew I was being reckless and the outcome was terrifyingly uncertain but I just didn't care. I got on the  plane that day and flew to my freedom. What followed next was hard labour and sleepless nights but I never regretted getting on that plane and my long awaited happiness came soon after.

Now five years later after having done countless odd part-time jobs, I get to do something significantly close to my heart to me everyday. I work full time with social services to ensure better care and support for foster kids. I've dedicated my life to my work so that they don't have endure the cruel and undeserved pain. I'm far from where I used to be and I don't think about the painful past most days but when I do, I think about the special offer that changed my life. I make sure I never let that sense of courage and hopefulness fade away.