"I have to leave. The monsters won't stop coming until I do." My father put down the fighter jet model he was working on to look up at me. For a moment he said nothing, just stared back at me as if hoping I wasn't really saying this. Years ago, it would've been different. He would've been telling me to go, waving me off, and going back to his planes. But this wasn't like back then. Over the years we had grown closer since I had agreed to stay with him whenever I could. I was old enough now to keep the monsters at bay, but now it was getting too hard. There were too many of them and the attacks were too frequent. I didn't want them to keep coming and eventually attack my family. "Annabeth-" "Dad please don't. I'm not running away this time. I'm leaving for you, for her, and for Booby and Matthew. I have to go Dad. I can't hold them all back, but if I leave they will leave you alone. Maybe you and Susan could fend for yourselves if I stayed, but Bobby and Matthew are too young to even understand." "They are twelve Annabeth. You were seven. They can understand this." I shook my head. "Dad they are mortal. I don't want them to get hurt because of my world. I'm sorry Dad, but I'm leaving. I-I love you. Good bye." I shouldered my bag and opened the door. "Annabeth wait! There's things you don't know-" I shut the door on his words and made my way down the stairs. Susan sat on the porch reading a book and jumped when I came out. "Annabeth? Is everything ok?" "Everything will be. Take care of Dad please. Good bye Susan." I took off down the porch steps. Her book fell from her lap as she stood up. "Annabeth?" The door flew open. "Annabeth!" My dad stood beside his wife, both of them staring at me in the street. I stopped to look at them. The snow was falling from the sky and I knew I had to keep going. I couldn't stop. "I'm sorry. Thank you for being there." I pulled out my Yankees cap and put it on, vanishing from their eyes. "Annabeth!" I couldn't watch. Just as I was finally starting to have a normal family, I was leaving again. I wasn't running away though. When it was safe, I'd come back. I'd see them all again. Pulling my phone out, I decided to risk a call. I needed to call someone. Tears stung my eyes against the bitter cold. "Hello? Annabeth?" "Percy I need help." Silence for a little. "What's going on Wise Girl. I can tell you're crying." I looked up at the freezing snow. "I-I left. I left home. I'm headed to New York. I have money for a plane ticket. C-Can your mom pick me up when I get there?"
