Evolution

Sneaking Out and Going to High School

All of us are hysterical.

We are laughing about the dumbest things. Tears streaming down our face and red hot cheeks as we laugh until we can't breath. Having a truth or dare family night is one of the best things that can make you laugh.

"Okay, whose turn is it?" Dad asked.

"I think it's mine." I replied.

"So, truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"I dare you to," he paused for a moment before he finished. "Go to the bathroom and change and go commando for the rest of the game."

"Dude you suck," I jokingly responded.

I just laughed. In five minutes, we were both hysterical. Then the laughter faded away and I woke up. It must have been a dream. I sigh. If only it was a reality. I wish I had my dream family.

My name is Vivian Thornhill, and I want out of the system.

All my life I have been in foster homes. Place after place, people after people, after a while, it just gets frustrating. Then again, I'm scared to go out in the real world. No one has really prepared me for it, so who knows what to expect? The truth is, I want to go back to my family. My real family.

The reason I've been in foster homes my whole life, is something that I'm not quite sure about. The good thing out of all this is that I've been going to the foster homes in the same town. That means that I've stayed through the same school system, same friends, and not too big of a major change.

I've been going to this place across the street from where I live now for a really long time. It's a music center. Music has been my whole life, and I'm glad that I was introduced to it. I've always had this thing where music almost saves me from everything, from my reality I don't want to live. So, when I go, I sneak in and I hide in the very very back of the store, so the storage closet, until everyone is gone. Once the door shuts, I play the piano, or another instrument, until sunrise, then I go back to my foster family. And so far, I haven't been caught.

I only go once a week, since I don't want to get caught. Usually I will go during Fridays. That's when no one is home. There are no other children in the house besides me, the newest foster couple is at work the most on Fridays, and at school we always have Fridays off for teacher workshops. Perfect opportunity to play.

I'm going there now, and for some reason I have this gut feeling that something bad is going to happen. Honestly I'm not sure what, but it must be nerves about getting caught like always.

I hide in the closet for a very long time. Having no food or water is the worst part. Usually I fall asleep for a few hours until closing time. I woke up to the shut of a door, so I knew it was okay for me to come out.

When I look around, I take in all of the instruments hanging on the walls and on display. To me, music has always been inspirational. I've never known why, I guess it just is. All of the violins and pianos and guitars call to me as if they will bring me home, and take care of me. Unlike my foster parents.

I seriously despise them. The funny part is that I don't really know them. I guess they just want the money. They seem to care about me, but the vibe they give off is very fake, almost like having me is for show to make them look like good parents. My 'dad', is a gambler. Spends thousands of dollars almost every night after he'd come home from work. My 'mom'? Yeah well, I don't even know what she does besides shop.

Whenever I come here, for some reason I always have a hard time deciding what instrument to play first. Yeah, sure, eventually I'll play at least one or two more when I'm done with the first one, but I like to dive into one and then swim back out to move on.