I watched the lantern slip from my grasp and onto the crystal clear water. A single tear drop fell from my eye and dripped onto the rotted wooden deck. I strained my legs out and turned from the water. The wind blew into my face and pushed my tears to my ears.

I hugged myself and slowly walked past my step father. Andrew. He was the worst thing that ever happened to me and my mother. I blame him for her death.

She died three days ago. The police arrived after my father walked into their bedroom and saw her dead. I was at school all day and I know without seeing him that he was not at work. Honestly, im not even sure that he does work. He leaves the house and returns, drunk. He does receive a pay check that pays for a third if the bills. I know that we are getting evicted.

I slammed the front door behind me and smashed the lock so that he wouldn’t get in. Tomorow I would have to pretend that nothing happed and return to school for a normal Friday. I couldn’t do that when everyone knew.

I stormed into my bedroom and crashed into my sheets. Then I heard the lock on the front door fall to the floor. My heart sunk. A gun clicked and the steps began to creak. Then the gun shot and blood poured everywhere.