A Life Story

Part One

     (**This Part may be triggering to some people, as it contains themes of sexual assault**)

I don't know how old I was when I started to remember things. I don't know when my first memory was; but the first big one was this. I was sitting on the cold kitchen floor, mashing my hands in playdough. I think it was Summer time. The front window to our house was busted out, but covered up by a black plastic trash bag. There was an argument going on in the next room, and I was scared, but I learned the hard way that you weren't supposed to interrupt two adults while they were fighting. A few moments had passed, and my Dad ran past me, his eyes seemed to be everywhere, and his hands were shaking. He walked out the door. I followed. My Mom met me outside. My Dad opened the car door, and I watched quietly as he slammed it on his arm somehow, kneeling to the ground in agony and tears. I wanted to go to him, but my mom grabbed my shoulder, "No, Laurynn.". Seeing the tears on her face, and hearing the tone in her voice was enough to make me stop in my tracks. I didn't feel quite like helping my Dad anymore. I don't remember what happened next, but I do know that he didn't get to come back after that. Or, at least, he never did.

We lived at apartments after that, Me, Zoe, Abby and Mom. It wasn't a good neighborhood. My mom always told me I had to take someone with me if I wanted to go to the playground. These days were very lonely though; I had been kicked out of school. I don't remember much about these days, but I remember my mom wore a green face mask after she got out of the shower once, and I had this big dream that when she was in that face mask she was my other mom: The one that didn't leave me with babysitters, or at grandma's house.

Grandma Evelyn was my caretaker most of the time. On the good days, she would take me out to the duck park where we would throw bread, chat, and observe the ducks in their play. The best days were the ones spent outside. She would show me her garden, and tell me everything she knew about it. At the time, I didn't value it much. I would've much rather been lifting up the rain gutter to find Rolly-Pollys, or braving through the trench that was a huge sewage pipe behind her house. Those were the days filled with silk sheets, spaghetti-o's, and littlest pet shop. I was free, back then. Running alongside my grandma on her daily trek to the mailbox. Back then, I was the girl with flowing blonde hair and big blue eyes: The waitress's daughter.

Soon, Mom met another man. His name was Hank. Suddenly, I was back in school again, and no longer lived at the apartment complex. Hank had a daughter named Brittany, whom was way older than me. I shared a bedroom with Zoe and Abby in a room right down the hall from the one Mom and Hank shared. I learned how to ride a bike at this house. I also had the first dog I can remember, his name was Bruiser, and he was a miniature pincher. I didn't care much for him. Being the baby of the family, most of the time I got what I wanted. Everyone was nice to me most of the time, except my sisters, who often left me out on any adventures they took. Still, I was happy here.

We moved again. This time to a blue house on the hill. We had tons of acres, a pond, and a driveway that took half an hour to get up most the time. I couldn't ride my bike here, the driveway was far to rocky. I had a neighbor named was Tyler. Tyler often rode his four-wheeler around our house, and after several months of watching him drive my sisters around on it, it was finally my turn. I remember how scary that first ride was, but also how exciting it was. I rode many more times after that, and eventually, my sisters and I were begging for one of our own. That same Christmas, after all of the big presents were opened, Abby and Brittany were given a small box, same for Zoe and I. We opened these last two presents, only to discover Poptart boxes. I didn't understand this, but before I knew it Brittany had torn hers up to discover a key inside; a four-wheeler key. Zoe and I soon discovered the same. Us four girls tore out of the house instantly, discovering a large yellow four-wheeler pulled up on the front porch, alongside it was a much smaller green four-wheeler, which was to be mine and Zoe's. We rode those four-wheelers all Christmas, and Tyler arrived later that day very pleased that we would no longer be stealing his.

I had a crush on Tyler. I don't know if he knew it or not, but every time he came over I insisted that I would always ride with him. During our days of play, I found that he had a crush on Abby. This hurt my feelings, but I knew he had no way of understanding that I was much closer in age to him, and was a much better candidate. It turned out Zoe liked him as well, because eventually they took up each others time and I was left driving the four-wheeler around by myself. I cannot explain the happiness inside me when Tyler's parents demanded that they broke up. I would've never told Zoe this. Soon, Abby moved away to her Dad's, and after that, I never saw Tyler much anymore.

My Mom was a heavy shopper; she had a deep love for bargains, and coupons. In a run down part of town, there was a little store called The Lighthouse. It was a mostly second-hand store, but also a Christian ministry. All proceeds went to troubled men, and the building also sheltered the homeless. The manager of the place's name was Victor, I knew him as Uncle Vick. My mom and this man were very close, and one day, my sisters and I were sent to stay the night with him and his wife, Victoria, whom I knew as Vicky. As a kid, I loved Vick and Vicky.
They honestly spoiled me rotten. While my bedtime was at 8:30 at home, at their house, I could stay up until I passed out. I occupied most of my time here playing on their computer, or playing with the toys that they bought me. I was so young, I never understood how odd it was that these two spoiled us the way they did. It never struck me as odd how they would often fight with my Mom over if they go to keep us or not. I was with them all the time. I almost considered them my parents. One day, when it was just me, Zoe and Vick, he bought us a swimming pool. I remember me and Zoe gladly jumping in the cold pool, swimming around happily while Vick watched with pure glee. Everything was great. Well, as it started to get dark outside, Vick pulled us out of the pull and instructed us to wait on the porch while he went inside and grabbed towels. We waited. When he returned, he had towels, our clothes, and a camera.