All Alone

12

"Sweetheart I have something I need to tell you," Taylor's mom says. I gulp. "Yeah?" I say cautiously. "Your dad has been caught and put in prison."

I nod taking it in.

"Your passport and birth certificate have been found and the police would like to meet you for a few questions, " she continues. "Will I be put in prison too?" I ask scared. "no sugar you've done nothing wrong. When my ex-husband was put in prison Taylor and I were questioned also," Taylor's mom says.

"oh," I say. "But they'll take me away, put me in a Foster home with mean girls like Jessica and feed me slop," I wail. Taylor's mom gives me a hug smoothing my hair.

"I've got it all sorted," Taylor's mom says. "Of course you'll have to make the decision, " she says.

I nod.

When Taylor gets back home from going to dancing lessons I tell her everything.

"It'll be fine. They'll ask you questions like, when did he start abusing you? When did your mom die? was he grieving?" Taylor says. I give her a hug and we play 'would you rather'.

I pull on a purple shirt with my jumper and my secret wedges. My hair is in a messy bun and I have a light layer of pale pink lipstick on.

We all get in Rob's car and head to the police station on the other side of Miami.

When I arrive I am greeted by an officer with brown gentle eyes and he leads me to a room with another man inside.

"I'm officer Lashley," he says putting forward his hand and I shake it. "I'm Sargent Smith," a man with grey hair and black rimmed glasses says shaking my hand. We take a seat and Officer Lashley opens a file while Sargent Smith reads what looks like an incident report.

"It says here your father, Joe Weatherhead not only stabbed this man he also beat him. Was he violent at home?" The Sargent says.

I nod.

"Can you describe his actions?" Officer Lashley says writing.

"He would grab me by the shirt and slap me across the face, throw me to the floor then drag me up again before slapping me again," I say angrily.

Officer Lashley records my statement.

"Was he always abusive?" Sargent Smith asks.

I shake my head.

"When did it start?" he asks.

Tears well in my eyes and I start to cry.

"After mom died," I say between sobs.

They look at me astounded and hand be a box of tissues but I don't stop crying.

They realise my mother's death is a hard topic for me and get Taylor's mom to comfort me.

I cry in her chest as she rubs my back soothingly.

"Now I need you to be strong for us Kimberly. We need to ask a few more questions about your mother," Officer Lashley says.

I nod sniffling.

Taylor's mom stays with me as they start again.

"When did your mother die?" Sargent Smith asks softly.

"16th of May last year," I say remembering that terrible day.

"I'm sorry for your lost," The Sargent and officer say.

I nod gratefully.

"How long after this incident did he take become abusive?" Smith asks.

"About three months when he started drinking," I reply.

"Are the people that brought you here family?" Lashley asks.

"Um they're -"

"Family friends," Mrs Matthews cuts in.

I nod quickly.

The police write down the information.

"Do you have adoption papers to be the child's guardian?" Sargent Smith asks.

"Not yet," Mrs Matthews says clearly making things seem as if she's going to adopt me when we all know she isn't.

"Would you like a form?" they ask.

Surprisingly she says yes.

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OMG! Dad locked away, uneasy questions asked . What's going on?

Read on.