Haters and Halloween

A Tragic Story

"I hate you!"

The words echoed in her mind, long after she'd said them straight to her parents faces.

"Why are you so intent on keeping me in the dark?!"

She had to admit: Her parents were much better actors then she'd given them credit for. Their expressions were almost convincing as she grabbed her sweatshirt and marched out of her suburban house.

This has been, no walk in the park.

"You know I love him!"

Why? Why did they hate her so?

I feel like we have, fallen apart.

"I haven't seen him in more than a year!"

All her life, up until now, she'd been a good little child. Her parents had kept the worlds secrets from her, trying to keep her safe.

Open up your eyes girl and see how wonderful, this love could be.

"Why can't I go?"

She'd felt almost like Cinderella, only without the happy, fairy tale ending. Pleading, begging to go to her boyfriend's party, and then being denied in a cruel, heartless way.

Hold on tight, it's a roller coaster ride we're on.

"He's only in town for a few days, and this was the only time he was free! Which is why he planned the party for now!"

Sure, she'll admit, she'd overreacted a bit. But her parents knew how much she loved him. They knew how so rarely they could be together.

So say goodbye, 'cause I won't be back again.

"I HATE YOU!"

Her brown hair blew slightly in the fall breeze. By now, she was far out of the suburbs, the leaves crunching under her Vans skateboard sneakers.

Up and down, you're all around.

Her phone rang. She turned on her Bluetooth.

"Hello?" Was it them?

Say goodnight…and goodbye!

"Hey, where are you?"

No. not them

Him.

Instantly her stomach felt better. And then her heart ripped in two.

You say you didn't mean to break, my heart but girl you did

"I…I can't come."

"What?"

Oh, how his shock and hurt pained her!

But I'm over it.

"My parents." Her breath came out in a little cloud. "They…I don't know. They've started drinking, drinking! I told them three weeks ago about the party and they said I could go." The damn tears started falling again and she began to sob around her words.

Adieu to all your games, and all your crazy friends.

"…and they were drinking and I said I was going and they…they…Dad threw a bottle at me, and Mom said you were a…a whore, a player, and started screaming at me."

His breath caught. "Oh…But it was going to be our night…" Was he holding back tears?"

This is the end.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I couldn't…I was so upset…"

"Where are you?"

"Outside the suburbs now."

"You left the house?! Honey, that's crazy! It's Halloween, who knows who's out there?" He groaned. "Okay, okay, look, find a gas station or something and I'm coming to pick you up."

Hold on tight, it's a roller coaster ride we're on.

Her heart fluttered and she managed to smile. "Okay," she agreed. "Will you stay on the line with me?"

"Duh." Faintly, she heard a car starting up. "Where are you?"

"Entering a busier part of town."

So say goodbye, 'cause I won't be back again.

"Ugh, you crazy person."

She approached a break in the buildings, a dark alley.

Up and down, you're all around.

Something caught her eye. She caught her breath.

"Hurry," she whispered. "I…I think there's-"

"YOU!"

Someone grabbed her arm. She screamed.

"Give me yo money, sweet-heart and maybe you won't have to meet my friend here…"

A gun cocked.

"I don't have any!"

Her boyfriend was freaking out on the other end of the line. "RUN!!" he screamed. "RUN! HURRY!"

He squeezed the trigger.

And Mitchie Torres uttered her last words.

"SHANE!"

The gun went off.

With her last breath...

"I love you..."