And Our Story Begins...

My name is Amanda, or Mandi. I'm 17. I'm broken, and can't be fixed. I look like I have the most perfect life ever. I have money, a huge house, great grades, and my family is really high up on the totem pole of my community. but what you don't know, is that it's all a mask for what really goes on in my house. My mother left a few years ago, my brother is a drug addict and almost never comes home. My dad is in the army and is the only person in my family who loves me, and whom I can trust. Which basically leaves me on my own. Before my mother left, she was abusive. She beat me. She wasn't always like this though, when I was younger she was the perfect picket fence mother. But when I turned 13 everything fell apart. And she was a very successful figure in our community, so when she left of course everybody knew, and everybody pitied me, and still does. I hate it, but what could I possibly do? My best friend, Hannah, has been there for me through it all. How much longer can I keep this up? With me being on my own, never knowing if my parents, well parent, and brother are alive or not.... I can't do this.