The Runaway

She didn’t plan to run.

She just knew she couldn’t stay any longer.

With a young son in tow and nothing but a packed bag and a breaking heart, she escapes into the unknown, chasing an impossible dream of safety. What she finds is a hidden mountain refuge, anchored by faith, forged in the fires of their own suffering—and clothed in grace like a second skin.

But healing doesn’t happen overnight. The scars she carries aren’t all visible. Haunted by trauma, silenced by fear, and unwilling to trust anyone—especially the gentle man who sees right through her—she struggles to believe she’s worth saving. Or loving.

As days stretch into weeks, she begins to rebuild what was stolen: a sense of self, a flicker of faith, and a tentative hope for something more. But the past doesn’t let go quietly, and danger still lurks in the shadows. And learning to receive love might just be the bravest—and riskiest—thing she’s ever done.

Heart-wrenching, redemptive, and rooted in faith, The Runaway is a soul-deep journey of survival, healing, and the quiet power of unconditional love.

-- Marika Thornton