She was going to listen to what I had to say this time, and all of he

t I’d had, coming home to a nearly

girl,” sh

ched for her hand, “You already know what I’m going to say. This has to stop

d away from me. “Y

o change. I’m glad you’re alive, and that I got to you

what it really was. I wasn’t talking to my mom, I was talking to the addiction. The addiction was her demon, and that demon hated me. So

d to tell myself that over and over. How can you blame a three-year-old for getting a fever at daycare and needing to get picked

so bitter that she never shared anything about him with me. She was drinking to forget, always, and so

word, I stood an

en and her family when I reached them. “She wasn’t as bad a

, said while running a supportive hand along my back. “Why don’t y

d, but I have a biology exam tomorrow that I haven’t studied for, and I also ha

was going to give you anothe

have forgotten she gave me the extension. I faile

dn’t go home sick,” J

really did wish I could stay with them, go to sl

in the house alone?” Jen whispe

t before,” I

ange number back right before you beeped in on my cell. Some guy said Jackson

ied to keep

king you up, and why didn’t

t you’re going to say.” I eyed her, “Listen, it was stupid, I won’t b

uy on the phon

ess. He took Jase and Paul down like they

ome, “I can’t believe you’r

what happened between the mysterious dude and me. I patted he

t me to sta

er now. I highly doubt those idiots

the

a’am,”

his alone time, and I did feel safe in my home. I glanced up at the clock, it was

ted by tonight’s events and the thoughts of what would ha

nce I had gotten off of work start to wear off. I began sobbing in fear of how close Jackson and h

I washed my hair. I ran my fingers aggressively over my lips, scrubbi

mb out my hair and tell me everything would be okay tonight. The pain of her not being exactly what I needed right now so I could just be a regular teenager instead of the tough,

up from the tub and dried off. I brushed a towel over the fogged mirror and stared at my puffy, brown eyes. My exhaustion showed all

mfort into my aching body. I crawled onto my bed and settled into my fluffy pillo

o green cat eyes peering at me from my open window. It meowed

e curious cat who managed to climb the ivy vine

my bed. “Aren’t you a brave little thing,” I laughed as it purre

” The cat purred loudly in response. “Well, I know everyone in this neighborhood, Mr. Boots,” I scratched un

fully sat down on the ledge and looked out into the darkness. H

rbell at this time of nig

m as if to answer the door himself. I slipped into the first bedroom out of the three we had

d to myself as I watched the guy who re

ing ahead of me and stretching its