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threadbare, yet you seem to always have new shoes and clothes. You eat out all the time, leaving us here to fend for ourselves. I’m leaving soon, and so help me, I’m going to turn you both in for child neglect the second I turn 18. You won’t treat Abby like this anymore! I’m going to see to it!” Kellan shouted and headed to his room without another word.
    “You’ll do no such thing, because if you do, we’ll make her life a living hell!” Nancy shouted.
    “It already is…but it won’t be!” he said, glaring at her from down the hall, those blue eyes like black daggers once again, daring her to argue with him.
    She didn’t say anything; she just stormed off to her room. Joe turned to me and said, “I don’t know why she wanted you.”
    “She didn’t. She wanted the money, nothing more,” I said, once again finding my voice. “Why are you home so soon? Gamble it all away…again?” I snapped which brought me a hard slap to the cheek. 
    They had abused us in many ways…but they had never been physical…until that moment. I stared up at him and he dared me with his eyes to yell for Kellan, and then he said it out loud; “Go ahead, call him. You can watch while I beat the hell out of him. He may be as tall as me now, but he’s still a kid. Trust me; he’s no match for me.”
    I put my hand to my hot cheek and walked away. I slammed my door and threw myself on my bed. I’d had more than enough stress that day…but through it all, I knew, without a doubt that Kellan’s imminent departure was by far, worse than anything Nancy or Joe could do to me, and worse than the bleeding…which I still didn’t understand. I spent the rest of the night crying, knowing I was losing the only friend I had or ever would have. My heart was shattered, but I refused to let him know, so I kept my sobs to myself, crying into my pillow. It was soaking wet by morning, but I sat up in bed and told myself I needed to be strong and not make it any harder for Kellan. I was suddenly glad he was getting out. I was worried that Joe would make due on his promise, and I couldn’t bear it!

ALL ALONE
     
    Today’s the day. I’m losing my best friend, and even though I told myself to be strong for Kellan, I woke up and immediately started sobbing. I heard a soft knock on my door and knew it was him. I wiped my eyes, trying to appear brave, but he saw through me the second he walked into my room and sat down next to me.
    “I swear I’ll be back to see you soon. I’m not leaving you , Abby. Please understand that I have to go. You do, don’t you?”
    “Yes, I understand. I’m just going to miss you.”
    “I’ll miss you, too. You have all of the numbers to get a hold of me, right?” he asked.
    “Yes.” 
    “I’ll give you the house number as soon as it’s connected. You promise to call me if they give you any grief, okay?”
    “I will, I promise. They won’t bother me, Kellan. I told you, I was here before you were, I’ll be fine.”
    “I um, I got you something. Open it after I leave, okay?”
    “What is it?”
    “It’s a book. It’s about…well, it’s something I think you should read. Don’t be mad at me, just promise me you’ll read it…all of it, okay?”
    “I will. You know I love to read.”
    “Yeah, but it’s not a mystery. It’s more…non-fiction.”
    “Okay…?”
    “Just promise me that you’ll read it, okay?” he said again.  
    “Okay. Thank you.”
    He set the wrapped book on my bed and said, “So, are you going to go to the airport with me?”
    “How will I get back?” I asked, wishing I could go.
    “Brianna’s parents said they’d bring you back. They also said that if you have any problems that you can call them. I left their number for you, too. I mean it, if you get scared or anything, you call them. Promise me!”
    “Yeah, okay. I’ll be fine, Kellan. Go and enjoy your new life.”
     
    I did it, I was brave. I promised myself I wasn’t going to make a scene when