Chapter #3

Dear Mrs. Parker

I thought that I would let you know a little bit more about me as a person, there are things no people know about that I no longer know if I can carry inside. Frankly you are the only person I would even feel slightly comfortable telling this. I know you’re going through a rough time right now so I will hold on to this letter as well. Maybe until the time is right, maybe forever.

As you already know I’m 17 and I live with my family- adoptive family- in a small house. I like hip hop music but that’s mostly cause it’s the only music they play where I live. My favorite movie is “The breakfast club” and I enjoy reading. Other interests I don’t really have, I’ve never been interested in sports… I haven’t really had the chance to get to try any sports to be honest.

Now the part that no one really knows about, I don’t actually know why I’m even telling you this but I need to get it off my chest. Remember that time a few months ago when you asked what had happened to my eye? That time I had a quite nasty cut under it? And I told you I had fallen in the kitchen. Well I did fall, but it was because my adoptive father pushed me, he said it was cause I hadn’t done the dishes properly. I don’t know if it was that or just out of boredom.

That’s not the only time it has happened though, things like that has been going on for years. It’s not only him though. He started it yes, but both my adoptive brother and mother has catched on lately.

They are basically the main reason why I yet haven’t walked up to you and told you how I feel….kissed you. You see you give me hope, make me dream of better places. Thank you.

Yours truly, Karla Lewis

“Why does it always take you such a long f-cking time to get home from school?!” He slams his giant fist against the wall as he comes out of the living room.

I have no answer, aware of the anger it causes when I try to come up with excuses I stopped with that. Instead I just apologize, that usually just cost me a slap on the cheek. Today is not different.

Before my adoptive father heads into the kitchen he places a hard smack on my right cheek. I look at him, nods and walk away. Just like I’ve been told to do. Whilst my brother enjoys seeing me cry my father can’t stand tears. He always says that this house is no place for weakness.

I often spend the majority of my days in my room, writing, sleeping, thinking. There isn’t much else to do that won’t anger any of the other family members. Today I think back on Mrs. Parker. Her worried face when she passed me by in the hallway, hearing that her husband probably was in jail. One part felt sorry for her, I knew they hadn’t been married for more than a year since both were quite young. Yet the other part of me saw this as some form of chance. I shivered when that thought hit me, I couldn’t possibly be happy about something like this.

As I got to school the next day the first person I ran into was Mrs. Parker, as usual we exchanged smiles and said hi. Though this day I felt quite brave so I thought I’d make some chit chat with her.

“I’m sorry to hear about your husband… Hope everything’s okay with you.” I attempted a small smile as I said the last part.

“You’re such a doll, everything is just fine. It was all a big misunderstanding!” She put her hand on my arm and gave it a small squeeze.

We talked for a few minutes and I could feel my courage growing. This was why I liked her so much, if it was any other teacher they would have said a small thanks and walked away. They always appeared so busy. But Mrs. Parker always made time for her students, even if it was just for mere small talk.

“By the way, Karla. There is something I would like to talk to you about? Do you think we could meet in my classroom at lunch break today?”

Thinking it may be about the last essay we had had I gave her a happy nod and we then parted ways. Never could I have imagined what she really wanted to talk about…