The Battle With Myself

Chapter 2

Leandra's P.O.V.

"Hey dad! What's up?" I say to my father who just came back from work.

"You know, work stuff. Hey kiddo could you help me unpack these groceries?" My dad says.

I smile and nod. "Sure dad, let me just clean this up." I was doing a project for the art class I'm taking. When my dad came to save me from the shelter, I decided to take up school again. My mom used to tell me that education is the key to sucess. She probably didn't get a good one, I mean she was a stripper.

Yea, I figured out my mother was a stripper. I'm young, not stupid.

I was picking up scraps when I came acrossed a letter.

"Dad?"I said "What's this?" My dad examined the letter. I immediately regret asking when my dad's face turns pale.

"N-nothing sweetheart, it's nothing." I flinch at his horrible lying skills. I'm not three, I can tell he's trying to cover up the fear in his face.

"Dad.." I say monotonously "What is it? What does it say?"

He shakes his head. "It's nothing. Could you please help me with these groceries?"

I slowly nod my head. I grab a few bags and shelve them up.

Obviously the thing in that letter is bad, and I'm going to figure out what's in it.

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The next two weeks are the best weeks I have ever spent in my life. Me and my dad went camping, shopping, traveling, canoeing, swimming, bike riding, and every other fun thing you can think of. I have never been so happy in my life. For once I can laugh and forget about the past, the pain,

My Mom.

I feel alive. Fresh and brand new. It's like nothing bad could ever happen to me and my dad.

I wake up to the smell of pancakes and eggs. I've been smelling that for the past two weeks now, it never gets old.

After brushing my teeth, I head downstairs. "Hey dad! Breakfast smells great! Thanks" I say as he puts a plate in front of me.

I happily enjoy my breakfast. But when I look up to see that my dad stares at me with a pained expression, I know there's something wrong.

Something about that letter.

I stare blankly at him. "What's wrong dad?"I say.

"What if I left?"

That caught my attention. "Left? Left for what? Don't tell me your thinking of leaving, because-"

"No, not like that. I mean if I died." He paces around the room. "If you haven't noticed, I'm not young and I don't have the best record in my past. What if...what if somethig happened to me?"

I shake my head. "No no stop it, dad. Don't think like that. Not when our lives are turning out the way we want it to be. Not when we finally found happiness. That's..that's not fair."

He slams his fist on the wall. "Dammit, Leandra. Haven't you noticed? Life isn't fair! Your mother that you cherished and loved, is dead! You can't just have in your mind that everything is fine. Life is not fair-"

"Well life can't be so cruel to take my mom and dad away from me!" I shout back. "Maybe, if you were there, you would see how beat up I was at just seven! I know that life isn't fair but, I do believe it does have a little bit of justice, a resting spot. And this right here, this is my resting spot. So don't you dare ruin it by saying stuff like that. I can't lose you dad. Not again."

My dad stares at me, and nods his head slowly. "Ok. Ok.  I'm gonna run to the convenient store to pick us up a few things." My dad says.

"Yea ok sure." I said. He goes up to me and hugs me tightly. "Im sorry." He whispers. "I love you."

"It's ok." I tell my dad. He grabs his keys and heads out.
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Beep...beep...beep...this phone is no longer in use. Please check the number on your phone or dial again. Press one for-Click!

"Where is he? Its been four hours!" I say frustrated. He's never been this late before, and it's kinda scaring me.

No Leandra, calm down, it's nothing.

After taking a shower, I heard my phone ring. I picked it up hurriedly. "Dad where are you? You've been gone four hours. I thought you were at the convenient store?"

"Leandra?" A shaky voice said on the phone. It wasn't my dad, it was Hailey.

"Hailey? Why do you have my father's phone? What's going on?" I said confused.

"There are police here. At the drugstore. They're trying to figure it out. Everything out. I'm so sorry. You don't deserve any of this. Oh God why? Why her? She's such a nice girl, it just doesn't make any sense." Hailey kept blabbing.

"Hailey...wha-what's wrong?" I said.

Please. Please please please please PLEASE don't say what I think will be said next. Oh God please.

"Your father..he's been brutally murdered...by gang members...and we can't find his body."
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Ha! Imma just leave y'all there bc suspense is the key!

Jk gonna update again today bc I love you guys.

This is sad. I hate writing sad parts of the story. Dang.

But it gets better along the way, things always do.
Picture on the side is Daved Presidence. You will meet him later on.

Pronounced pree-zee-die-ence

Thanks!
    Stella L.