It was mid-November, life went on. Things only got worse from there. My relationship with Vic was beyond perfect, and Karina was the most amazing friend that I've ever had. But things at home were bad. My dad was fighting more with my mom, and he started drinking. But I never told anyone. As much as it pained me to see all this happen, I didn't want anyone talking bad about my father. Whenever things would get bad, I would go hide in my tree, climbing away from my problems. I would wait up there, sometimes all night, just to see if they would come look for me. They never did. I was at Vic's place one day, because my parents were gone again, and I didn't feel like being alone. We were in his bed, talking about life and things like that. I turned over to hug him, when my sleeve rolled up. He grabbed my arm gently, and looked at me. I had a huge, purple bruise on my arm, from one of the nights my father came home drunk. "Mona? What is this?" I got off his bed and quickly rolled down my shirt sleeve. "It's nothing." I quickly said. "No, Mona, its obviously something! Come back, talk to me please..." He whispered the last part, and that's when I broke down and told him everything. About the family problems, how my dad got fired, how he started drinking, and how my mom wants to leave him. He held me, and listened, because that's all he really could do. He couldn't fix my problems, even if he tried. I finished telling him everything, and we sat in silence. "Mona, my beautiful doll, why didn't you tell me any of this? How can I protect you if you don't tell me things?" I shook my head. "There was nothing you could do about it, Vic." That's when he gasped and said, "Move out. Let's get our own place! I have the money, I have a job, you're going to be eighteen in less than a month, and I love you, Mona..." I hugged him tight and said, "Vic, that's too much of me to ask of you. We can't. I can't leave my mom with him." He was starting to get excited about the idea. "You said she was planning on leaving him, right? If she was away from him, would you live with me?" I thought about it, and I felt hope for the first time. "Yes, Vic, yes!" I had to get home before 4, and he walked me to my door. He kissed me goodbye, and I opened my door. I walked in, and I heard screaming and yelling, then a yelp. I ran to the living room, and I saw my mom covering her face, crying, and my father raised his hand again. I ran and shoved him, and he hit me instead. The pain was shocking, but I couldn't let him hit her. He slapped me again, but this time I braced myself. He went to hit me again, but this time he fell to the ground. Vic was on top of him, holding him down. He punched Vic, and Vic fell to the floor. My father stood up, and staggered out of the door. My mom was crying on the floor, and I went to her, and checked how she was. Her face was swelling, and I sat her down on the couch. She stopped crying and whispered, "Mona. Go pack your things. We're going to your aunts house, back in L.A." I felt like I was falling backwards. L.A? Back home? No... That meant I wouldn't be able to see my friends, Karina, Vic.... I couldn't leave Vic... "Mom, but we can't just leave... I have a life here... And Vic..." She grabbed my shoulders and said, "Mona. You're young. You'll find someone else. But we can't be here, not with that... Monster." I turned and ran out, out to my tree, and climbed to my branch, with tears in my eyes. No, this can't be happening... I sat on the branch on my favorite tree, crying and staring at the sun. I began sobbing. I loved Vic so much, and my mom was making me move, which meant I had to leave him. I couldn't do that... He needed me and I needed him. I continued sobbing, and I felt someone wrap their arms around me. I looked through my tears and saw Vic, and I buried my face in his chest and sobbed. His face was swollen from where my dad hit him, and I kissed his face, but I felt him flinch. "Vic, I'm so sorry..." He rubbed my back in a calming manner, and said nothing. He was so amazing, and it hurt so bad knowing I had to leave him. "Vic." I said through my tears. I'm leaving. I'm going back to L.A, Vic. I can't leave you. I love you so much..." He hugged me tight and said in a shaky voice, "We can make this work, Mona. I love you too much to let you go..." I looked at him, and I knew deep down that it wouldn't. He was just saying that to make me feel better. "Vic..." I whispered. "We need to break up"
