My main character has to leave her home in order to start her new life in a secret place. How do I get this done when my MC is only 18 and her dad isn't okay with this? Any suggestions how I can make it believable for the reader that he doesn't come looking for her? She is an adult by law, but how can I explain the situation to her family or deceive them? Thank you so much!
Why? As in, why does she have to leave home to start her new life in a secret place? I take it from the reference to her being "an adult by law" that you're talking present-day? And I take it that you don't want her family looking for her; why not? And is she in a typical British family, or in a more patriarchal culture?
Ouch. Harsh. But a possibility I suppose. If it's a dark story, it might even be preferable because of that.
Well, if she just leaves - packs up and walks out, say while he's at work, asleep, or out somewhere - without leaving any kind of clues behind, I don't see how her dad could track her down. As long as he doesn't know where she's headed, and since it's a 'secret place' I assume he wouldn't. Disappearing is surprisingly easy, especially if you avoid leaving a paper trail that the police or a PI could easily follow or going to any usual hangouts where someone could recognize you and rat you out.
If I would explain, then I would need to tell you the full synopsis. Let's just say that it is a crucial part in my story. The story takes place in Belgium. At the age of 18 you are an adult there, but people will still see you as young. I don't want her family looking for her, because it I think it wouldn't add much to the story. But maybe I can make it important... Thank you for reminding me that maybe it can add to story if they do look for her. I'm sorry, but no. She wouldn't want such a thing, not in her nature. She wants to go to this secret place she learned about, but she might want to come back, so she wouldn't traumatise her family like that. Thank you nonetheless. Again too drastic. Doesn't fit my story, but thank you for your inspiration. Yes, that's a good possibility to make it work. But again, she wouldn't want her family to worry that much. She wants to say goodbye so they can live their lives instead of trying to find her. Maybe she should leave behind a letter to explain her disappearance? That way the cops won't cooperate because she left willingly and therefore isn't 'missing'. Would that be a good idea? Thanks for the suggestions!
Run away from home? Maybe her Father dies? Or what @izzybot suggested? It really shouldn't be too difficult to come up with a reason that works.
