The Night Everything Change
My name is Kristen Hayley Salvatore and I live in Asbury Park, New Jersey. I cannot regret the fact that things happen for some reason, that why I told myself every day. My mother - a woman that hardly care about the consequences - she drinks, and does things she may not regret now, her name is Michelle. For my father - very different from my mother - he is a doctor, and his name is Robert. My family use to be nice, but not anymore. The happy moments were long time gone since I went to school and my mom was almost gone all day, and dad was at work. I knew it was not going to be a long time until they go on their own. Who knows what is going to happen to me.
One dark night, it was September 13, in the city of New Jersey. I was only 3 years-old - I did not know a lot - when every thing happens. It was 5 pm - the time my dad comes home from work - but that did not happen tonight. He came days later. While that happen my stubborn mother was maybe right about him leaving us, but then it happen.
When he enters the house, it was, as if I did not know whom he was. He looks like a zombie rather then my father. His eyes, there were pure red and they look thirsty. His skin look pale white and when I touched him…his skin was ice cold, like I was touching an ice cube rather then his hand. Robert looked at me - I am not sure how I can remember this but it happens every night since the day he return - he hold me tight, and then suddenly every thing happen. I could feel the pain in my hand - it burn. He let go of me, I was on the floor and suddenly he touch me again and took my hand - my hand still burn - and bite it again. After a few minutes, the fire was out. I lost consciousness. Everything happened so fast, I could hardly keep up.
When I woke up, I thought I was dead. I did not remember anything, but I knew who I was at least. I saw my mother first, in hospital - she was wearing some kind of clothes that say I am married and I have children or at least a daughter - she kiss me in my forehead, it was the first time after many days or weeks that had pass after she kiss me.
"How are you feeling honey?" she said with a sweet voice - I never heard her call me honey, it was a surprise - that make me feel good or maybe I should say better.
I try to say some thing but I could hardly manage to say it. The only thing came out was a word the was easy to say for me, "gud mom"
She smile - I never seen her smile, I knew it wouldn't last long, but I was please - then she rub my hand and suddenly I remember what happen last night. It felt like a long time since I woke up seen the light. I was trying to tell myself that it was a dream but by looking at my hand, it was hard to say that.
"Do you want to sleep more, Kristen?" she said with the sweet voice again. She looked at my with worry eyes and I thought that she was under some kind of drugs, but when she lean and kiss my check it was like she was my mother for the first time.
I manage to say "No" and it came out good. I still did not think I was alive because of two reasons. The first was that what happen yesterday. It was some thing that could never happen in real life. I knew that but again my hand was hard to say that it did not happen. It was like living a nightmare, but I never dreamed some thing like that. The pain was a lot worse then just a cut by something like a deep paper cut or a cut made by scissors.
My second reason was that my mother was happy and looked a little worry but she was always worry but not about me. She almost spends the time worrying about how she is living her life and how she is going to get her stuff - like drug or cigarettes.
I was please to see that she show some interest on what the nurse was doing to me. The nurse asks the same questions as my mom did but I did not answer. I only give her a look that must answer all of her questions. I felt tire but I was worry about my dad. My dad was the one I would think that was here, but he was not any were near. The sun was shunning bright - it was spring.
I wanted to ask this for a long time now. Therefore, I manage to say it. "Daddy?" I looked up and my mother looks down. I thought fast that maybe he was dead and every thing that happen yesterday was done by someone - a monster I thought. Also maybe my mother was right; maybe he came for his stuff and left us. I knew my dad, it was hard to believe, and I started crying.
My mother saw my first tear and she cleaned it. I looked at her and saw something that was hard to believe like if she was sorry for every thing. She hesitated and then answers my question, "Your father is working and he may not come, sweetie. Did you want to talk to him, honey?" She said it, but I knew it was a lie because one, my mother was not a good liar - even if it was for a good reason. And two, I knew my father wouldn't work go to work with me in the hospital - even if I had a little cut or if I was sick, I knew he would call or stay home for me.
My father is not like this and I knew some thing was going on without me knowing. Days past and I was losing hope, but I knew he was coming back because it was almost my birthday. I was turning four in September 18 which was only one day way. Today was September 17. It has been 4 days and no show of my dad. I was getting more worry by the time. I was wondering what happen. What make him do this? Did he still love me? If he love me, he would come back, right? Nobody could not answer this questions only my mother, maybe. I was too afraid to ask and besides I could hardly talk, I was only three going to four. The days were long for me while I just stared at my mother. She doing some thing with a piece of paper and talking on the phone. Suddenly someone nock on the door - I jump and my mother laugh, it was a small laugh, but I smile.
She told me "You are so silly Kristen, its only Sarah at the door", and then she kisses my forehead. Sarah, I though, she is my mother's best friends since she married my dad. Sarah was just an ordinary or almost ordinary woman that has a cat for a pet and has no children. I never liked her to much because her cat scared me a little, but mostly because she looked tire and looked like a wicked witch - I smile and though about how she could look on a broomstick. My mother notice that and she smile back. After that I thought about more and I came to see that she always looks really tired like she never slept or at lest rest for the night. I knew that look of not resting at night because my mother never was home at night or not even in the day. She always works at day but at night, she was with friends. She was always with Sarah. Sarah did not bother me a lot but the only thing I did not like was how she convinces my mother so easily.
Sarah said to my mother "I can take care of her if you want; I only need the money to buy food and stuff. Then you can just go" I look up, they may thing I am just a baby but I knew what the words meant and I knew more then they think. I knew some thing was wrong and more. The words that Sarah said were a little scared - at least for me it was.
My mother heisted and answer, "I don't know because what about Robert comes back" - she look down at me - "and you know what could happen" Robert, my dad, he was alive and I could see my mother did not like that.
I look up, I though about all my questions that I wanted to ask, but most important was that he was alive and she answer my question. I was relieved for a moment but they sit down and I was trying to pay attention to the conversation.
"Don't worry, he may not come back, Michelle" Sarah said with a sweet voice. I knew my face look sadder then worry. I wanted to see him at least for one more time. I would do any thing for that. In addition, it was my birthday and he would never miss it for anything.
I started to remember the last time I saw him. It was as if I knew he was going to leave or something like it. I told him in the park "Daddy I luv u" and then he smile at me and hug me tight. I did not think that day was the last day I was going to see him or the last kiss or the last hug. I suddenly came sadder and I one tear came out of me eye. My eyes had water now, I was crying and my mother took me and holds me tightly. She said "Don't worry, He would never hurt you again" I look up and just stared at her.
They continue their conversation. I did not bother to keep up because they were mostly talking about what was going to happen and what was my mother going to do. One small sentence made the difference in this plot.
"You know Richard loves you and he would do anything for you. What if you go with him and Kristen?" Sarah said. I look up and I though for a minute. I did not know any Richard Jones. Now I had more questions. Who was this Richard? What did my mother have to do with him? Why did he love my mother?
"I know he does, but he doesn't know about Kristen and he doesn't like kids. It would be a problem. You know it Sarah." My mother responds with an angry tone. Now this time came more questions, but also some answers. The answers were that now I knew why my mom was out of the house a lot and I got what my dad was saying to a friend at the hospital, his name is Dr. Carlisle Cullen. My dad was telling him how she never was home and how she left me alone. I knew Dr. Cullen since I was months. My dad always takes me to him for anything. Dr. Cullen is a great man but a little estrange. He looks just like how my dad looked when he came home that night. He has pale skin and I have notice that sometimes his eyes are honey-brown and sometimes are black.
The new questions were more about my dad and this new man named Richard. Why didn't Richard like kids? In addition, why didn't he know about me? The new questions for my dad were: Why did he look like Dr. Cullen? - Expect on the eyes because my dad's eyes were red - and where was he? All this was confusing.
After Sarah and my mother finish talking Sarah left and my mother left a note - I did not see what was on it but I was sure that she wrote something sad because she was crying. I went to the window and suddenly a black car came. The car was fancy and shy. I kind of like it. A man steps out of the car and came to the door and knocks 3 times before my mother answer it.
"Hey love" The man said and kiss my mother on the lips. I thought about does 2 words. They were weird for someone to use does for someone who is happily married and has a daughter. Also about the kiss between him and my mother.
"Don't call me that. Kristen doesn't know anything and either does Robert, so I am leaving this" - she shows the note to him - "for him, ok," my mother said with an angry voice. I thought about and I was please with her tone.
"'Kay Michelle, sorry but I think this little rat doesn't understand anything we are saying and for your husband, he is an idiot for doing what he did." the man said.
My mother looked up after packing her clothes. I think that man did not know what he was saying because I understood everything he said. I this he was the dumb one in here.
"Don't call my girl a rat ok," she said with an angrier voice. "She is everything for me and this is harder then it looks like" - she look her luggage - "Here take this to the car" she give the luggage to him and then he left.
My mother came up to me and looked me in the eyes. She said "Don't worry sweetie everything will be all right, ok" - she wipe her tears with my blanket - "Okay" she said to her self " I am going to tell you this and you are going to try to understand, ok honey" - she sight and then she took my head and look my in the eyes - "That man over there" - she point to the man in with the black car - "he means a lot to me just like you do to me, okay.
"His name is Richard Jones." She said and I look up with shock on my face. I was a surprise and now I knew why that man named Richard Jones called my mother, love. "Honey? Kristen?" she said with a worried tone. I look up and all I can see were tears in her eyes.
I try to say that he was not good for her, but I could hardly speak. I knew my mind did not work as if it should be but I was in a good way. I only said "Wats going tu happen, momma?"
She looks down like it she was trying to figure some thing out. She looked back at a newspaper and started to read an article out aloud.
She read, "Something is going on in this beautiful city of Asbury. Ten people have already disappeared. The police are working on these cases. We will see with time passes." I saw my mother's face, she was worry and I knew she would start crying any time.
Richard came back and said "WE" - he pointed to my mother and him - "have to go; WE are going to miss the plane". He said this with an angry tone and all I could do is just stared at him with my eyes to his eyes.
My mother hold me tight to her and said "I am not ready and I don't know if I should do this…..what about if no one finds her…or…if….someone like the man in the city….what if he tries to take her and do some to her," she heisted and then said "I would never ever forgive myself if something happens to her" - she pointed to me - "she is everything to me and I don't-"
Richard stops her and kisses her lips. I did not know how to count but I bet a long time pass. Alternatively, maybe it was I. My mother stops him and then looks at me. After that glace, I knew everything was going to change. Michelle, my mother, left me with no words of a good-bye.