When Life Meets Me

"You won't say anything right?" Asked Mathew. "Your mom would be mad at me."

Mathew didn't know how much I could take of this treehouse "club." It's always my excuse not to come home from school. I lived only three blocks away from Sunnyshores Elementary School. My mom could come looking any minute! I was in 5th grade and she was always a complainer when it came to lies.

"Don't worry. It's my "Homework Hut!" My mom will never suspect anything!"

All through elementary school I have been coming to the park across from my school and hanging with Matthew. We didn't do anything besides kiss. I know a 5th grader is really weird to be kissing but we have always been friends. I love him.

"I've been thinking. Why are we still together? My sister says relationships don't last this long. She has TONS of experience!" Matt sighed. "Not saying anything is wrong but, I wanna know." He looked at me with a scared look. I knew this wasn't going well.

"I have no idea. I think I know where this is going." I bite my lip as he grabbed my hands.

"I told my mom. About this and she doesn't like it. We have to- to breakup!" His hands flung to his face and he got on his feet and screamed, "I'M SORRY!!"

That was the last time he talked to me. I couldn't believe it. We've been doing so well. Chelsea, the "Mean Girl," was actually jealous. For the first time. I wasn't ready for this. Our dream was to get married and move to wherever we wanted. Chelsea claimed the tree house every day from 4 to 5. So I could never sit there and cry about the one time of my day that was my everything. I had no other place.

My parents are abusive. There I said it. I come home to slaps and demands to put dinner on the table. I don't have an phone or anything nice that Chelsea has. That's why Matt was my phone. Every night when they kick me to bed they go out and drink. Drink themselves drunk. Then they come home with more money from the drugs they sell. To be honest, I can't wait until they are under custody. Ill be free. And my bruises can heal.

"YOU WERE THE BIGGEST MISTAKE WE'VE EVER MADE!!" My parents screamed. Apparently I was. The "process" of making children was "broken" and then I came along. I was unwanted. Unneeded. A runt. They never wanted me because I would take up to much of the time where they could "un-sober" themselves. I hate them. I really do.

Then came middle school. I had no idea what to expect. So I decided to ask my currently sober mom.

"Mom? I'm scared about going to middle school. What is going to happen?" I sat down next to her and her unknown toys.

"Switching classes, drugs, boys. Why do you always come to me with your problems? I don't care about them one fricking bit!! LEAVE!!" She said standing up and smacking me across the face. "Get! You little jackass!"

I stood up and ran outside. When I get older I'll turn them in myself! I darted down the street towards Matt's house. I didn't care what his mother said. Once she knows what I go through she'll fall on her knees, begging for me to stay. Mrs. Larson was a Christian Saint. Never missed church and lives by the bible. A woman like her would never stand to see me go through what I do.

As Matt opened the door he sighed.

"Hi. Mom again?" He knows my life front and back. My heart quickens at the sight of him and I collapsed into his arms. He holds on longer than I would of. His mom came into view and had tears in her eyes.

"I don't know why I ever stopped this. I will turn them in if you'd like." Mrs. Larson whispered.

I untangled my arms from Matt's and I said, "Yes ma'am. I would love that."

After the once again Matt filled days through middle school, the cops finally found my parents. I was free! Life was all better.

Until high school came along..

TO BE CONTINUED...