I never really understood why I was born. My whole childhood, I was beaten. I was in and out of the hospital a lot. When I was six, I walked in on my father committing suicide. I never truly knew love till Evelyn Mercer started letting me stay over when things got bad at my house. Eventually, my mother just went to rehab leaving me with the Mercers… She never came back which I was somewhat thankful for.

Bobby Mercer was the eldest and most like a father to me than my real dad. Bobby had the worse rep, but all the Mercer family did. Jeremiah Mercer was the second eldest and he was always full of wisdom. He had given up the Mercer life and now had a little family of his own.

Angel Mercer was the muscle man that would threaten any guy that so much that looked at me. And then there was Jack Mercer. Jack was the one I was the closest too. He was in a band and is my best friend. Ever since I left when I was eighteen, Jack was the only one that came to my college graduation and came when I got my first job as a Zoologist. I never missed a gig of his. We pretty much talked on the phone every other day or once a week.

So, when he called me telling me Evelyn was killed… I couldn't believe it. He was so heartbroken. That was his mother. The only woman he has ever trusted in his life. I could hear his heart break the more he told me about what had happen. I could never bring myself to call her 'mom'. All the boys never had a mother… I did, she just was the shit mom, you always hear about. I just always called her Miss Evelyn like all the other kids in the neighborhood. We lived right across the street from the Mercer's and I was hardly ever at my house.

I stared up at the hill of the cemetery. I can't believe this. She was the only person I knew my entire childhood. She pretty much raised me and now… She's gone because of some idiot kid robbing a store. I had gotten in early this morning. Jerry paid for my flight and I took a taxi here this morning. I hadn't seen any of the boys and I was thankful for that. I wrapped my arms around me as the wind picked up. I felt an arm wrap around my shoulders and looked up to see Jerry.

"Hey Jer. It's good to see you." I said hugging him. "What have you been up to?" I saw Jack and my heart froze. I hadn't seen him in months, and he still always made me blush. I have had a thing for Jack since I was seven when Evelyn adopted him. Jerry asked me again and I snapped out of it. "Graduated college and been working at a zoo."

"How come I didn't get an invite?"

"I sent them. Jack was just the only one to show up." I whispered bitterly and Jerry mumbled a sorry. I gave him a weak smile and walked up the hill towards Miss. Evelyn's coffin. I rested my hand on it and closed my eyes tight wishing all of this was just some sick joke. "Hey Bailey." I turned around and smile when I saw Bobby standing there with his hands deep in his pockets.

"Hey Bobby" He took a step towards me and hugged me kissing me on the forehead. "You haven't changed that much, Bay" He held me at arm length. I had gotten a few tattoos and had my nose pierced. He stared at my nose ring for a while and I just knew he was going to bring that up later. "Bailey?" I turned around and saw a red eyed Jack. He bit his bottom lip and grabbed me hugging me tight. He started shaking and I knew he was crying. "It's okay, Jackie. I'm here." We sat down and listened as the priest began talking about Evelyn. Jack stood and began talking.

I was sitting on the stairs of the porch watching as the cops talked to my mom. I looked up and watched as a sheet cover gurney was carried down our stairs. I saw that the sheet was covered in blood and my father's arm was hanging off the gurney. "Are you Bailey Alexander?" I looked up and saw a cop sitting down next to me on the steps with a notebook. I remember seeing him playing hockey with Bobby.

I just nodded; I didn't want to talk to anyone. I was covered in my own father's blood. My Hercules sleeping grown was covered in blood and I was holding my Meg doll close to my body. I had walked into the basement after hearing some noise and my dad was standing with a gun in his hands.

"Bailey, can you tell me what you saw? I know you are scared." I watched as my mother fell to the ground screaming. She was always turning the attention on her. I mean, her six-year-old daughter just witness her father blow his brains out and she was causing a scene.

"I walked into the basement and he was holding a gun." I whispered staring down at my Meg doll. It was sad that I was more scared of him seeing my bruised cheek than actually seeing my father die.

"Did he say anything to you?" He moved my hair out of my face and froze. I bit my lip; he just saw the bruise that my dad gave to me earlier today for spilling his beer. "What happen to your cheek, Bailey?"

"Green, don't you think you should leave her alone." I looked up and saw Bobby. I jumped up and ran into his arms. He picked me up and held me close to him. "I'm just trying to get the facts, Bobby." Green said sighing.

"She just saw her father kill himself. Leave her alone." Angel said rubbing my back. I looked over the Bobby's shoulder and she was glaring right at Bobby. She hated me being with them. It's because she knew they knew the truth about her beating me.

"You! Let go of my baby girl!" She screamed trying to take me out of Bobby's arms. I held on tight to his neck and closed my eyes wishing it would all go away. The cops grabbed her by the arms pulling her away from us.

"Mrs. Alexander, I think we need to take you to the hospital. I am sure Evelyn Mercer will take good care of your daughter." Green spoke as Bobby told Angel to go inside to get some of my clothes. The cops holding my mom placed her into the cop car and drove off.

"We are going to get you clean up and you can sleep with me. How does that sound?" Bobby spoke softly as he walked across the street.

"I'm scared, Bobby." I whimpered hold onto his neck harder. I was going to get in so much trouble when my mother got him.

"We won't let her hurt you."

"And she would tell me, Jackie you don't have to hide your toothbrushes…" Jack couldn't finish, he started crying hard. Bobby stood up and told Jack to sit down as he waved me up to talk. I took a deep breath and touched Jack's arm as he walked by me. He gave me a weak smile sitting back down.

"Evelyn Mercer was an incredible woman. She did sure an amazing job raising four boys. Bobby, Angel, Jerry, and Jack were all so lucky to have this woman as their mother. I moved into the Mercer's home when I was thirteen… The beatings from my mom got worse, where I ended up in the hospital not knowing if I was going to make it or not. My mother got arrested and forced to go to rehab. She never came back. Miss. Evelyn was the only person, who kept me sane and made me go to school. I will always be so grateful for what she did for me. And I will always be thankful for what you four boys did for me." I swallowed my tears and stared at the coffin next to me.

"She didn't deserve this." I let the tears fall down my face as Bobby took my spot. I walked back to my seat and grabbed Jack's hand. He kissed my head as I buried my face in his shoulder. Jerry rubbed my back as he cried holding his wife's hand.

The wind picked up and Jack pulled me close to him. I took in his scent. Leather and his cologne mixed together. I loved the smell. It brought back some many memories. Memories that scared me and memories that made me smile. I loved him, but I could never tell him that.