The countdown's on...

Holy crap I've never snuck around this much in my entire life; there's been so much preparing to do, knowing that I only get one chance to do it right and then we're outta here! Yesterday there was a birthday party for one of Dillon's little friends. I told Derek that we would be a bit later than usual, sometime after 6. He didn't seem to care, but of course, when we walked through the door at 6:35, he was insane with rage that I hadn't been home earlier to fix his dinner. He screamed for a good half hour as I got the kids showered, dressed and into bed. Thank God they'd already had dinner at the party. With each rant, scream, insult, curse and hurtful phrase, I secretly thanked him for making it easier; for confirming in every insult that I'm doing the right thing; for reminding me with every bellowing scream, of all the times in the last four years that I've prayed that we could leave. And now we really are. There's not much time left. I'm still nervous, but I'm very focused on what I need to do, and the countdown's on! Until next time, dear friend...