Things Do Get Better
Chapter 6
"OK. I'm gonna start from the very beginning. So, I don't want any interruptions, OK?" I asked. They all nodded in agreement. "OK," I paused. I really didn't wanna tell them, but they really wanted to help.
"When I was 2," I started. "My mom died. So, my dad had to take care of me. He wasn't very good at it. He didn't know how to do anything. So, whenever I whined or something, he'd hit me or lock me in my room. I guess he was just confused and upset about my mom dying. Then, he started drinking. He'd drink all the time and was always drunk. He became very angry all the time and he would hit me more and more often for no reason. Finally, when I was 10, I was sick of the way he treated me, so I ran away. He was able to find me almost right away. He was really angry, so he hit me and locked me in my room for 3 days. On the third day, I climbed out my window and ran away again. I haven't seen my dad since then. I lived on the streets for quite awhile. About 5½ months ago, I was able to get a job at McDonalds and able to live here paying rent. Well, I had lost my job, and since I haven't paid my rent in 4 months, I got kicked out of here. Before we left to go eat, I found a letter on my dresser from my dad. After 5 years, he finally found me again." I was now crying. I didn't want my dad to find me. Lance put his arm around me and I cried on his shoulder.
"What did the letter say?" asked Chris, quietly. "I dunno. I was afraid of what it might say," I said, sitting up. I stood up and took the letter out of my pocket. I opened it, sat back down, and started reading it out loud.
"Katie- I finally found you after 5 years of looking. I see that you are doing quite well, sort of. I'm surprised that you, of all people, were able to get a job and find a place to stay. Well, looks like you're back on the streets again, since you lost your job and got kicked out. Goes to show you that you should've never have run away. See I'm planning on getting you back. I thought you had learned your lesson the first time you ran away. Guess not. Well, you'll learn your lesson this time. You'll be very sorry that you ran away from me. I can promise you that. So, you better watch your back. When I get my hands on you, you'll regret you've ever left. I'll see you around very soon. -Dad."
I was crying my eyes out by the time I finished the letter. Lance held me as he said, "Everything will be all right. It's OK. Don't worry." "Everything isn't OK," I said. "You heard what the letter said. He's coming after me. He's going to hurt me!" "No he isn't. We won't let him," said JC. I looked at the guys. "But, what am I gonna do? He found me," I said. "You can stay with us," said Chris. The others nodded their head as I looked at them. "But, what if he comes after you guys too?" I asked. "He won't. We're leaving tomorrow morning. He won't be able to follow us," said Joey. "Yeah, so why don't you go pack your stuff and you can stay with us at the hotel tonight. Then, we'll all leave tomorrow to Orlando, OK?' said Justin. "OK," I said, quietly.
I got up and went upstairs. As I opened my bedroom door, I screamed at what I saw.
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