Ever

5

It all started the day he had offered to walk her home. Her father had arrived unexpectedly early that day, and by his slight stagger and the sight of empty bottles littering the floor of his car, Ever knew she did not want him to meet her father that day.

She tried to turn back, but her father had flown into a rage, yelling and screaming at Ever until she was forced to go inside, leaving him to face her father's drunken wrath.

Ever ran inside the house and curled up into a ball, wishing she could disappear forever. She cried, silent tears staining the cold tile beneath her.

Though she resisted the urge to look out at the scene, the sounds of her father's slurred, angry voice and glass shattering against the pavement provided all the imagery she needed.

That day, everything was changed for Ever. Her father came back inside the house, blood on his hands from the cut glass bottles.

Not able to stand it any longer, she risked a glance out the window. The boy was gone.

By now, Ever was sixteen. And she was beginning to think that she would never find the unknown ending she was searching for.