She left on a Saturday night, around midnight. She came home drunk from one of her "work" poker games. I'm not that stupid, I mean, we live in Vegas, just a few blocks away from the biggest casino in Vegas, the MCM Grand. She packed her bags late at night and walked out the door. Didn't even take her beloved car, that she loved more than me. No goodbye, no note, no nothing. It made me feel helpless. Like it had something to do with me. I haven't told anyone. Not even my bestfriend. She comes over everyday and still to this day, ten years later, doesn't know what happened. I told her my mom got a day job. I feel terrible lying to my bestfriend but I don't want her to feel sorry for me and show me pity and tell someone. On the rare occasion that she asks to sleepover at my place I tell her, "That would be great! My mom's working overnight at the hospital tonight because Dad decided to stop paying child care. Even though I'm 16."
I haven't sent my dad a letter telling him about it either. Every week I get $1,000 in the mail, meant for child care, and I use it for bills and groceries. I have mastered the art of forgery. I forge my mom's signature when the bills come. I have mastered the art of makeup and can make myself look exactly like my mom for meetings and for when I have to show "my" license. I'm lucky my mom left her credit card and driver's license. She was too drunk to remember she left it under the bed. And she was too ashamed of herself to come back for me. Too ashamed to say goodbye, too ashamed to come back for her car or credit card or driver's license. I hated her so much for leaving me. Leaving me, a 6 year old, to fight and fend for myself.
