Chapter 1-The Battle Fought and Lost
Lexi's mother, Karen, skimmed through the mail that the family post owl, Barny, had brought.
"Alexandra, you've got mail," Karen called from the kitchen.
"From who?" came the voice of 16-year-old Lexi from down the hall in her room.
"Looks like the book and supply list for school," responded her mother. Lexi appeared in the doorway wearing tattered jeans and an old Hanson t-shirt.
"Mum, please don't make me go back," Lexi whined. "I don't think I could stand to see that...that...that filthy, rotten killer for another whole year." Karen put down the rest of the mail, closed her eyes and sighed.
"Alexandra, I don't want to hear it. What he did was horrible and I wouldn't wish it on anyone but it was 14 yrs ago. Let it go." Karen said patiently to her daughter.
"Mum, you don't get it," Lexi said. "He hasn't changed. You don't know anything about him."
"Oh and I suppose you do then, seeing how many detentions you've had with him," Karen said in a tone barely above a whisper.
"Why are you defending him!" Lexi screamed at her mother. "He murdered your husband!"
"Alexandra, don't bring your father into this. We aren't talking about him. We are talking about..." Karen began.
"Stop it! Stop acting like he isn't important. Stop acting like he never existed. You don't love him!" Lexi interrupted, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Alexandra McKenzy Walker, you do not interrupt me when I am talking," Karen said trying to keep her voice steady.
"You didn't even have the decency to keep his last name. When you married Michael you took his last name, Lascher," Lexi spat back.
"That's it! This conversation is over. You are going back and that's it." Karen said.
As always, Lexi started the battle and always, always lost it. Life just wasn't fair.