The Stancy Files

Chapter 29: The Letter

As Nancy was packing up the belongings she was going to take with her, a worry entered the back of her mind. She didn't want to say goodbye face to face with her parents because they never would've let her leave. But she felt as if she owed them an explanation, even if it was exactly what they didn't want to hear.

She decided to write a letter. One note to her mother, and one note to her father, both on the same page. Once she was finished, she folded it in two, placing it directly in the middle of her bed, facing the door. Steve helped her toss down her bags out of the window to the ground. Once everything was out, he turned around to Nancy. "You sure you're ready?" She nodded. "I always have been." Their eyes met and held.

After Steve had gotten down, Nancy unlocked her bedroom door. She then climbed out of the window and ran to his car, having to take several trips with her bags.

Then it was done. And Nancy Wheeler no longer lived at her childhood home.

Her parents would soon discover her letter.

. . . . . . . .

Karen knocked on the door of her daughter's bedroom door, hoping for a response. "Nancy? Nancy, open the door please." A brief moment of silence passed. "Nancy? Nancy! I'm not asking again." The woman said before walking into the bedroom. It was empty, dull. Everything seemed different, and her daughter was nowhere to be seen. Only a little folded piece of paper sat on the girl's bed.

It read:

[FRONT TITLE]

Karen and Ted

[INSIDE THE PAPER]

You're probably wondering where I am, so here's an explanation. You deserve only that much.

In the past few years, I have learned SO many things about our family, and how a family should support one another. But our family doesn't do that. Maybe we did when I was really little, but for as long as I can remember, our family has been horrible. Not a family, but just related humans living under the same roof. Neither of you taught me about the things I should value. I learned it on my own. You gave me a place to stay and food to eat but were never really THERE for me. Thank you for what you provided. But there's no stopping what I know is right. I have left your home and I have no intention of ever returning. I am a legal adult now, and you can not legally stop me. It should be a relief from a burden for you too. I am no longer one of your legal obligations!

Karen,

You tell me all the time that my boyfriend, Steve Harrington, is a horrible person. You even told my friend, Robin, that he turned girls into sluts. But you're wrong about him. You always have been. You never actually got to know Steve, and now you'll never get the chance.

I love him, and you can not stop it. You can try and try again, but you will always fail. He loves me too. I hope one day you can find that again, because even though it may be sad for you to read this, what you and your husband have is not love. Maybe it was when you were younger, but it's not anymore. I also told you countless times about why I'd broken up with Jonathan Byers. I cared for him, but I now do know I never really LOVED him. He never had any good, pure feelings for me. He was just jealous of Steve in the first place.

Now that you know I have left, I want to give you some advice, as you once tried to give me advice. Don't come looking for me. It will only make matters worse.

Take care of Mike and Holly. Maybe you can have a good relationship, or any relationship at all, with one of them.

From, your blood relative,
Nancy

Ted,

Honestly, I'm not even sure what I'm going to say here, but it probably isn't going to make you happy.

You aren't there for your family. You're not there for your wife or children. You aren't a good father. If I'm being completely honest, I don't think you ever were. You just sit in your stupid reclining chair or are just there. You hardly even speak unless it's taking your wife's side on something- which are usually ridiculous causes anyhow. 

Today you called Mike "son" and you've never done that before. It was strange. It's like the only thing you value in life is the male species. But when Steve, the man I LOVE, was eating dinner with us, you treated him horribly. What was that even for? 

Do better. Treat your family better, all of them. Your wife, Karen, and your two children, Holly and Mike. Or your wife is going to kick your lazy ass out of your own home.

And if you do decide to take that advice, there's one more thing you need to hear. Don't come looking for me. Don't you dare try to rebuild or recreate our relationship- if we ever had one in the first place.

From, a girl who you SAW but never spoke TO,

Nancy

[LETTER ENDS]

Cold, moist tears began to spill out of  Mrs. Wheeler's eyes and onto her pale-colored face. She didn't know what to do and sat in silence, trying to understand everything her daughter had written to her and her husband. Nancy couldn't be gone, forever. She couldn't be. They had too much history. After all, Nancy was family. 

Karen began to think, and the more she began to think, the angrier she became. 

I carried that girl in my stomach for nine months! And she repays me like this?! All I wanted to do was show her what was best for her. But she disobeys my orders and tries to come up with her own system of logic! GOD! Why is she such a fighter?! Why did I have to have such a hard-headed daughter?!

The woman sternly stood up and walked down the stairs to her husband. There were no emotions displayed on her face. "Nancy is gone." Ted looked up from his Lazy Boy up at his wife. "She's upstairs in her room." Karen remained emotionless. "No, Ted, she isn't. She ran away. She left and she is not coming back. We have to find that girl and force her to stay." She handed her husband the folded piece of paper. "She's written a letter. She will not come back on her own. We have to fix this." The man's old wrinkles creased on his forehead as he read the letter. "Call the police. They will take care of it." Karen stood firm, not moving an inch. "No, Ted. Nancy may be a foolish young girl, but she was right about one thing. We can't get the law involved in this. She's eighteen years old now. A legal adult." 

Ted frowned. "Forget about her, dear. She doesn't love us. Then we don't love her." The woman whacked her husband across the cheek. "For God's sake, Ted! Yes, we do! She's our daughter! And she's going to marry Steve Harrington if we don't do something about it!" Mike walked down the stairs after hearing the commotion from his room. "What's going on?" He asked. Ted looked at his son with no emotion. "Your sister left. She's marrying a boy... Stew Hardy? Paddington? We don't like him." The Wheeler boy's eyebrows spiked up. "Nancy and Steve are getting married?!" His mother clenched her fists. "Not yet. But if we don't do anything about it, they will. We have to find her." 

As soon as the woman said her ultimatum, Mike ran up the stairs to call Steve. That must be who Nancy is with. 

.      .      .      .      .      .      .      .

Ring. Ring. Ring. The line beeped at the Harrington house. Steve went to pick up the phone. "Hello, who's there?" He asked. His girlfriend's brother answered. "Steve, what the hell are you doing?! My parents are saying that you and Nancy are getting married!" Steve's jaw dropped. "Hold on, hold on. Where did they get that from? We're not getting married. Nance is just staying with me for now. Your mom and dad won't let us be together unless she's out of the house. And it was completely her idea. She's here if you wanna--" 

Mike cut him off. "Well, they're going to come find you! I totally get why Nancy left and I don't blame her for it at all, but they do! My mom isn't getting the police involved now, but it's my mom. She's going to!" Steve motioned for Nancy to come over to the phone. He handed it to her after whispering what Mike had told him. "Shit! Mike, can you hear me? Do you know where they're going?!" Her brother's speech sped up rapidly. "I dunno, but probably his house! Where else would they go, Jonathan's?!" 

Nancy's yes widened in terror. "Yes. Yes they would."