It was my second year of college, which also means my second year away from home. I met a lot of new people but one in particular stood out to me. His name was Ethan. He was a quiet person, who barely ever raised his hand in class. We met when he bumped into me on campus.
"Sorry about that!" he said in a low voice. "Can I help you pick those up?"
"I would sure like the help!" I replied. "Hey aren't you in my math class?"
"Oh yeah, aren't you Nina?"
"I sure am! Aren't you Ethan?"
"That's me. How about we go down to the Cafe and get to know each other?"
I sweetly accepted the invitation, because in those two years I had never been invited out by such a sweet, cute boy.
We sat down at a small table towards the back of the Cafe. There weren't that many people there because everyone usually goes back home on the weekends.
"So tell me a little bit about yourself" I said
"Well, I just switched over from a school in England. My life was extremely tough and I needed a long break from it all. You know what I mean?"
"Boy, do I ever. If you don't mind me asking, what happened back in England?" I tried to ask him as politely as I could, so that he wouldn't leave me like everyone else.
"Well, I'll just tell you my story from the beginning. When I was about 6 or 7, my parents got a divorce from each other. My mom raised me and my 3 other siblings by herself for about 2 years before meeting someone else. She went on dates a lot and practically left us to fend for ourselves. When I was about 10, she married this man that she didn't even introduce to us.. She just hopped on a plane to Las Vegas and got married. At 15 my mom died of a drug overdose.. She was so so young.. I- I just couldn't.."
A single tear ran down his face as he struggled to finish his story.
"Anyways, we were left with our "new" step dad, who just couldn't get over her death. He started drinking and would never seem have a sober moment. He would abuse us every time he wasn't thinking straight. I always wanted to leave but I couldn't until college arrived. This is finally my time of freedom. I get to live my life the way I want too and I promised myself that when I find the right person and have a family, I will never treat them like my father treated me."
I didn't know how to respond. I felt so bad for him and I just wanted to let him know that everything would be alright. But that was impossible. What has been done, has been done.
"I'm sorry you had to go through all of that.." I said. "I wish I could have helped you."
"No, it's okay I promise. Please don't worry about it?"
"Okay, I wont worry.."
"Thanks, so how about we uh... do this again sometime?" He asked.
"I'll be there" I said as I wrote down my number on a napkin.
YOU ARE READING
Screw Up
Teen Fiction"When I was 5, I had friends. But they weren't like the ones other people had. oh no.... They ruined my life. They made me forget what it is to laugh, love, smile, and live. They tortured me to the point of wanting to die. But, I love them like a fa...
