The Tree That Stood Alone

Chapter 13

When we got into his car, I'm in the front seat and Ethan is in the back, I notice how much of an adult my father actually is.

"I'm sorry that I didn't protect you more from her. I should've come to get you when I heard you mother died." Kyle, or Dad, said. I stare out the front window, too scared to look at him and make him protecting me seem more real. "You deserve better than a runaway father like me. Your mother deserved better." Don't look at him, Taylor, don't look at him I scream to myself in my head.

"Dad, where are we going?" I feel like a horrible human being for blocking his actions to try to make an emotional connection with me. Kyle/ Dad turns onto the highway.

"I'm taking you two to your grandparents' house. Your mom's parents." I hear him sigh sadly. "You aren't safe with me. Being with them, you will be safer than with me. It's the best thing for all of us, no matter what you think. Your mother did the best job at keeping Rose at bay, better than what I could ever do for you." He keeps acting so sorry for himself, for him not being around as I grew up. No daughter is suppose to run away from a crazy psycho to be with her runaway dad.

As we drive in silence for a long time, maybe even hours, I begin to think about everything that has been going on. My mom dieing in a mysterious car accident, me being taken in by my stalker who pretended to be my aunt, me running away to my father's new life with a guy I just met, and now I'm running away from my crazed stalker with my runaway father and a guy that I just met. If only my mom could see me now. She'd be so disappointed that I haven't realized what's really going on until it's too late. Rose isn't the one I should be worried about. The one I should be worried about has been helping me this entire time, only to kill me.

Ethan. He's going to try to kill my father and I. Actually, he already succeeded at killing one of us.