Running from Love Pt. 01 - Introduction

Prologue:

This new Billyslate Love Story is a Two-Part Slowburn Lesbian Romance tale. There are no children in Pt. 01, but are in Pt. 02.

When children are in my storylines, there's minimal sexual activity if they're close by. Also, generally, there's little or no alcohol consumed when children are present.

All descriptive sex in this story is lesbian, with females aged 19 or older. Some explicit lesbian sexual actions occasionally feature a strong, but loving woman as the definite TOP controlling the action along with playful and occasional firm spanking.

This 45^th and all Billyslate stories are 100% Fiction in every aspect.

Edited By Billyslate/Grammarly

***

As I briskly run through the beautiful Sarah P Duke Memorial Gardens, at Duke University, Durham, NC, it seems like my whole life will now revolve around running for the next few years.

Being a loner, I'm relaxed and comfortable running or jogging for several hours daily. My current runs are 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the late afternoon, once the sun's low and the temperature cools. I only do the morning runs on weekends, giving my body sort of a 2-day break.

My running now has a clear-cut purpose, leading my thoughts into another time and place. I'm distraught and angry about the past 2-years of my life, the dissension of the USA and nearly the entire World into continuing chaos.

Most news whether traditional or via social media is filled with hate, crime, genocide, climate instability, and threats of a coming Nuclear Devastation.

We now get pounded almost daily with USA-Mass Shootings, the Ukraine Invasion, Mexican Drug Cartels at our Southern Border, Sex Trafficking, and such, which is enough to drive any sane person batty.

However, I'm now dealing with a disastrous and heartbreaking family issue, my relationship with Dad is fully in the pits, and seemingly beyond repair. I love him, but although I'm 19 years old, he treats me like a toddler. So, I rebel bigly two weeks earlier angry at him, stomping up to my bedroom in our Brooklyn Heights, NY home.

I've been constantly battling with my parents on Jewish tradition since turning 13, and not wanting a Bat Mitzvah Celebration.

Bat Mitzvah is a female coming-of-age party, where one becomes responsible for her actions and life (Sins). It's technically a Religious Event, but in reality, one's first adult party. A Bat (Female) or Bar (Male) Mitzvah celebration is normally given when a Jewish child is 12 or 13 years old.

My name's Ava Jewel Goslinger and I'm 19, so I've been battling our Jewish Tradition for nearly seven years, starting at 12. I love my parents, who aren't religious fanatics, just big on tradition. I feel Mom truly understands me but is in a no-win bind because of Dad's male control issues.

My first post-Bat Mitzvah battle (which I conceded), was for High School, and I lost again. I attended Beth Rachel School for Girls grades 1-8 but wanted to study at a Public High School. But ended up graduating from Beth Rachel School for Girls-High School.

The combined Beth Rachel schools (Grades 1-8 and 9-12) are expensive with a small student enrollment, of under 4,000, and located in Brooklyn, NY. My Dad's family has lots of wealth, probably $8 or $9,000,000 net worth, so the cost was not a big deal to him.

***

I must honestly say I love my parents, but as an only child and female, I carry a lot of religious tradition baggage. Dad, Warner works in the NY Investment Arena, while Mom, Gillian has stayed at home with me for my entire life. I've never had a Nanny, nor does my Mom go out to a lot of strictly adult social events.

I'm loved (controlled) more than my inner-soul desires, being an introverted loner by my choice and comfort. I've never been in a click with a bunch of giggly girls and most boys avoid me like the plague. My Dad's overly protective of me, so they don't want to cross him for any reason.

Secondly, I'm a brilliant student, probably forgetting more in a day, than most boys learn in 10 Years. I'm comfortable with Mom and Dad alone but don't like their friends prying into my life. For this reason, I do not socialize very much and most of my parental control resistance has been relatively passive until nearly a year ago, and blow-out explosive two weeks ago.

I graduated from Beth Rachel High School as Class Valedictorian with a 4.00 GPA. My parents assume I'll study at Brandeis (Jewish) University, and if not there, one of the Ivy League Universities popular with Jews, such as Yale or Brown.

But I also must submit to the Jewish Tradition and live in an Israeli Kibbutz working for a year, honoring our Biblical History of serving Israel. There were several Ugly Battles, which I eventually lost but for the first time, I wasn't passive, so a few of the words and exchanges were loud, angry, and hurtful.

***

Hating to lose a year of my life living in a Kibbutz, I want to get this chore done and over. So, immediately after my High School Graduation exercise, in JUNE 2023, I travel to Israel.

Unfortunately, Palestinian terrorists (Hamas) invade Israel from Gaza in early OCT 2023, disrupting life for everyone, especially me. I didn't want to be there in the first place, so now I heartily push my parents to allow me to return home early, like yesterday.

Being in a different area of Israel, far away from Gaza, I'm never in real danger. But the entire county's on edge from the viciousness of the attack, and honestly, I never wanted to waste a year of my life on a Kibbutz.

In late JAN 2024, I arrive back home in Brooklyn Heights, NY, quickly exhausting my Mom, Gillian, and Dad, Warner's patience.

Basically, I refused to talk with them because of my residual anger at being forced to travel to Israel and live on a Kibbutz. So, I stay in my room, not eating, talking, or socializing with them in any manner.

I know Mom's in tears over this huge family rift, but it's time to Cook Or Get Out Of The Kitchen, for both she and me!

***

Unbeknownst to Mom and Dad, I'd previously applied and received a Full Duke University Fulbright Engineering Scholarship. It pays 100% of my expenses while earning a Master's in Engineering (MEng).

My parents become livid when I show them my acceptance letter and threaten to take my car away if I move to Durham, NC.

During my senior year in High School, I convince my parents to buy me a small electric Chevy Bolt. I use it for running around Brooklyn, upstate New York, and NJ, giving Mom more time for herself. So, I plan to take it to Duke for the five years I'm there.

There are more extremely hurtful words being hurled between Dad and me until my Mom urgently intervenes when I yell;

"Dad, take your Fucking Car and Junk it. All you care about is money, not even worried that I could have been killed by the terrorist attack in Israel. I'm going to Duke if I have to Fucking hitchhike to get there and you'll never see or hear from me again!"

Mom quickly hugs me saying, "Sweetie, go upstairs so your Dad and I can talk for a few minutes."

I fall asleep trembling, crying, seething in anger, and scared shitless but I'm not backing down. Later, Mom climbs into bed and talks with me for an hour. She knows I'm explosively angry, but didn't fully mean my harsh words.

Hugging me tightly Mom says, "Take your car darling, and drive carefully to Duke this weekend, phoning me when you arrive safely.

"Here's a Credit Card for you to use as needed, and don't fret darling, because you've never been wasteful with money. Once you're settled, I'll fly down to see you for a week," pulling up the bed covers, and staying with me all night.

***

DUKE UNIVERSITY

Mom's okay with my renting a small place in Durham during the college spring break and summer until my scholarship kicks in for the Fall semester.

I'll pay using ATM withdrawals from the CC.

Once the Fall semester officially begins, wherever I stay, dorm or approved apartment will be covered 100% by my Prestigious Fulbright Scholarship.

Through Duke's student placement service, I find and take a small 1-bedroom efficiency apartment on West Campus. Married Graduate Students normally live in these units, but a surprise vacancy opens in FEB 2024 until the Fall Semester starts. So, it's a perfect solution for both Duke and me.

Now, living alone in a quiet, 1-bedroom apartment, I do not fancy ever living in a noisy university dorm, especially after my negative 6-month experience living in a Kibbutz.

So, being in Durham a few months before the Fall Semester starts gives me time to look at various housing options. I want a long-term place to settle in comfortably, most likely being here for the next 4 or 5 years.

I'll study for a Master's In Engineering (MEng). Some programs suggest it's better to study for a Masters In Science (MSc), which is more widely accepted internationally. However, both Master's Programs have the option of my continuation to study for a Ph.D. in Engineering, which I'm considering.

***

Running is the only exercise that truly relaxes me because I'm a loner, and have run hours daily for more than seven years. So, I'll try out for Duke's Women's Track and Field Team this summer. I've never run competitively, so I need to decide whether I am best on sprints, such as 100m and 200m, or distances like 800m or 1500m.

There's an open Women's Track and Field tryout weekend for all matriculating students, 18-21 JULY 2024, where I'll learn what my best distance is for certain. But, for now, I just run-run-run daily in the Duke Gardens and occasionally on one of the several on-campus public tracks.

I run mornings and evenings, trying to be in tip-top shape by early summer. I notice another girl running in the gardens most weekday mornings but have not seen her in the evenings or on weekends.

We occasionally wave when passing, so I know she's also seen me before, but we've never spoken. One morning burning up the gravel path, my mind wandering, I bump into this girl, who's bent over tying her sneaker's shoelace.

Saying a quick apology, I catch my breath, thinking she surely looks Arabic and most likely Palestinian.

She looks at me with huge eyes dropping her head subserviently, so I feel strongly she recognizes me as being Jewish. I was only in Israel for about 7-months, but she has the distinctive features of the few Palestinians I meet working around the Kibbutz.

Quickly touching her shoulder, and as she looks up, I point down the gravel path, "Let's Run Together!" slowly continuing on my way.

At first, she reacts like a Zombie, then slowly nods taking a few steps and catching up to me. So, the two of us are running together in the Duke Gardens not even knowing each other's names.

We meet near the same spot every weekday morning, but I don't see her in the evenings or on weekends. One morning nearly a month later, we're halfway through a long, tiring 3-hour run.

It's now late April 2024, and getting extremely hot in Durham by midday, so we stop for a drink of water. The girl either forgets or loses her water bottle somewhere, so I give her mine since she's sweating hard and taking deep gasping breaths.

Smiling, after slowly taking a long swig of my water, "I'm Dania, and thanks for the cool drink."

Me grinning, "You're welcome Dania, and I'm Ava."

She slightly raises her eyebrows, "Israeli?"

Me, still grinning, "Yes, I'm Jewish-American and you're Palestinian?" walking up close and giving her a soft hug. "Let's Run."

On that scorching spring day, after nearly five weeks of morning runs together, we become Dania and Ava.

***

Dania's still very quiet, mostly saying good morning and goodbye after we finish our run. We still meet at the same spot where I bump into her, and it's relaxing running mornings with Dania. We don't talk much, just run for nearly 3-hours every weekday morning

Then one slightly cool morning there's no Dania, which goes on for a week. We've never talked, other than simple greetings like Hello, how are you, enjoy your day, and Goodbye, so, I don't have any contact info for Dania.

After not seeing Dania for 10-days, I feel so lost and alone, but keep up with both my morning and evening runs. I didn't realize that she was my first friend ever and I miss her so much, crying myself to sleep one night.

On several evenings during the next three weeks, my sadness overflows into tears before I fully accept that Dania's gone from my life. It's just so unfair, I've never met a person like her, who's content to run and smile, without constant jabber, and now she's left me.

Then nearly a month after I'd given up hope of ever seeing her again. I turn the corner and there stands Dania, exactly where we first bump into each other.

I race over, cuddling her in my arms and sobbing, "Oh Dania, I think you're sick, hurt, or gone forever, and I am so sad. Where have you been, I miss running with you so much?"

She looks around nervously, "I miss you too Ava, we need somewhere safe and quiet to talk, but I can only leave the place I live in the mornings."

Still holding her tight, "I have my car today, and live 10-minutes away. We can talk at my place or a nearby coffee shop for an hour, and then come back to the gardens for a 2-hour run."

Dania also holding me snuggly, "I feel safer going to your place, Ava, so we scamper to the parking area, hurrying to my apartment

***

DANIA'S LIFE

Dania doesn't relax until we're inside my apartment, so I know she's scared of something or someone. I make tea, which she prefers to coffee, and also bring out a box of kosher wafers, which both Jews and Arabs eat.

Dania starts talking, "Ava, I think my parents were educated because I've always spoken English. I don't know how or why, but they were killed when I was just 7 years old, after which I grew up in a Palestinian Refugee Camp.

"I was given many special jobs in the camp and was treated well. Most of the time, I was a teacher for the younger children learning to speak English.

"I miss my Mom/Dad, but every adult at the camp denies ever knowing them, which may have been true. I also don't know why I was sent to that exact camp, being so young at the time.

"I didn't know it but was being watched by some of the leaders running the camp. A rich couple came for me when I was 12, and I've lived/worked for them since then, and am now nearly 19.

I'm treated like a Maid/Slave working all the time, and not getting paid, with them always closely watching me. My only free time is when I run because the man's wife's too lazy to follow me, and he's teaching at Duke in the daytime.

The husband, an Arab is at Duke for two years on something called a Sabbatical. I take care of cleaning their on-campus house, cooking, and the children who are in school during the day. So, I can only run on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

I think he's a Professor of something, and he has been at Duke for nearly six months. We were mostly in Iraq before but have also visited Gaza and universities in other Arab countries in the past six years.

***

"Last month, they awakened me very early morning saying we're going away for a month, and there's no way for me to tell you. I'm so lonely not seeing and running with you every morning, but can't let them see me crying or they'll ask many questions."

Finishing, Dania throws herself into my arms boohooing loudly. My pain goes away quickly knowing she misses me, but her life in Durham and the Middle East is like being locked up in jail. Her free time to run on weekday mornings is the same as being on prison work release.

I try hard to think of how I can help Dania, but there's no easy answer, so we must quietly work around her situation until we can think of something.

We hug, cry, and plan for an hour, and then go finish our run. We'll meet at the gardens every weekday as usual, but on Tuesdays and Thursdays, slip over to my place for an hour of alone time.

From that day at my apartment, we mostly hug and share stories about our lives until now. We also talk about our family(s), but Dania only faintly remembers her deceased parents and no one else who could be family.

***

I still run for a couple of hours in the early evenings, once it cools off. Twice this week I see two girls wearing Blue Devil tee shirts and shorts, running in the gardens which piques my interest.

I see them again on Wednesday and wait to greet them at one of the garden's shaded rest areas. I wave as they come closer, both girls stopping with cute smiles. I introduce myself as Ava, a soon-to-be Fresher in the Fall semester.

Both girls are quite excited since they are both upcoming Freshers as well. One girl, Sherry is a mixed Black/Native American with a light Southern accent, while the other girl, Ellis is a total Southern Belle, with a deep South drawl.

We share a little personal history(s), me learning Sherry is an orphan growing up in group and foster care homes. She's from Kinston NC, which has a fairly significant Native American-Cherokee history.

Sherry bounces around several foster homes over the years, and different Social Workers, one of whom sees something special in her. The social worker has contacts at Duke, who pushes for a special acceptance based on Sherry's difficult childhood as an orphan.

Sherry never knew her true biological family but is thought to be a Native/Black American genetic racial admix. She has a sharp facial cheekbone, like most Native Americans, but a much deeper bronze color, most likely from her Black genetic heritage.

She's taking summer makeup classes and will be on probation for the first semester. If she does well, maintaining the equivalent of a 3.70 GPA, she'll keep her special Buick Achievers Program Scholarship for the full four years and possibly graduate school.

***

Ellis's situation is more like mine with her having a 4.00 GPA and great family wealth. Her family history is from the Little Rock, AK area, and her grandparents also have small mansions on the Atlantic Ocean. One is in Beaufort, NC, and the other Savannah/Tybee Is, GA, both near the waterfront. The grandparents are deceased, so Ellis's Mom, Adair now owns all 3-properties.

Ellis and her Mom vacation in both east-coast places during the hot Arkansas summers, but she loves Beaufort, because of the Duke Marine Biology Campus being there. So naturally, she chooses to study at Duke University, winning a Fulbright Scholarship, same as me.

Ellis and Sherry meet, clicking instantly while rollerblading on Duke's East Campus. After learning much of Sherry's history, Ellis offers to tutor her this summer and the Fall Semester helping Sherry catch up and keep her scholarship.

***

So, after knowing each other for a month, Ellis and Sherry are now good friends, both taking summer classes. Ellis's classes are advanced studies likely allowing her to complete her MA Degree sooner than six years.

Ellis jokes, "Well, we've got a Jewish girl, a Black/Indian girl, and me a Southern Belle, so we need a Jap to round out our mixed racial group."

I giggle, "Well Ellis, I'm also a JAP, so will a Palestinian girl work in rounding out our Gang Of Four?"

Sherry looks at me like I'm nuts, "You're a Jap Ava, come on, even I'm not that silly?"

Grinning wickedly, "I'm a Jewish American Princess (JAP), and my best friend Dania is Palestinian."

Now Ellis looks at me strangely, "Let me translate your comment to English, you're Jewish, and your best friend Dania's Palestinian?"