Paul had gotten home late the night that he went down to see his dad. He was fully wallowed, and not an ounce of tears came out on his family. Carmen hadn't said much to him, not that he wanted her to. It was like a few weeks later; Carmen had thrown a rock at their window and went home. It was just hours before the wedding, and Paul was in his room alone. He had gotten over his dad for a while, but he still thought of him at times. He got an email from his father after all that time, it read:

Dear Paul,

I didn't get to see you last time you visited. That girl you saw me kissing was my girlfriend, Maria. She didn't know I had kids; you ruined it for me and her. Thanks a lot Paul. I haven't had a girlfriend for a week now; the news has gone around about you. Thanks a lot Paul. You know, I didn't want to have you, you were a mistake. Your mother and I were messing up in that period of life. We got married and we had the right to have fun with our privileges. But then you came, unexpected, unwanted. Your mother didn't have the heart for abortion, so we had you. You were a cute little boy, I have to admit. But you were lonely. So your mother wanted you to have a sibling, and hey, I'm not the one carrying the baby. So we had Krista. Krista was more of a bouncing baby than you ever were. We always paid more attention to her, because she was interesting, she had a purpose to be on this earth. But you don't, Paul, we didn't want you. You came without notice, like a rude relative or a bill. But we had to deal with you, you were our son. I don't want you to come visit anymore; I don't want you to ruin my life more than it already is. Paul, please stay away from me; I don't want to be reminded of the mistakes I made.

Yours truly,

Ex-Dad

Paul read the email and cried. His mother came in and read the email also. She nodded her head.

"I'm sorry, Paul, but it's true," she said. She cried and sat down on Paul's bed, then cried some more. "That father of yours, breaking your heart!"

"Mom, it's okay," Paul responded. He went outside; to the same place Carmen had gone when she was in distress, except he didn't know that. He sat on the ground, skipping rocks across the small creek. The tears streamed down his cheeks. He found a sharp rock sitting beside him. It was very sharp, sharp enough to cut through leather, sharp enough to cut through skin. Paul picked it up. He said this poem to himself.

"You heartless father hath crushed my soul,

My heart thou do pull and pull,

And while my heart stretches beyond,

I wonder: is my purpose gone?

Is there nothing I can confide in, in life?

Will anyone be my friend through this confusing strife?

Or shall I be alone, while holding this knife,

I wonder, Dad, why,

Why is heaven so far in the sky?

Will it be a long distance for me to go?

When I leave this earth, for thou don't love me so."

Paul was a centimeter from jabbing the sharp rock into his chest, and then he heard a voice say, "STOP!"

He looked over at the voice and smiled. It was Carmen; she was standing behind a tree listening the entire time.

"Maybe you're not so bad after all," Paul said.

"Maybe," Carmen agreed, "C'mon, our parents are getting married!"

"Carmen, you saved my life, thank you."

"You're welcome; I want to talk to you more Paul."

So that's how Carmen turned from being my enemy to my friend. She saved my life, one foggy evening by the creek. This story wasn't told in the books, because it was written in the girls' perspective, and I told Carmen not to tell anyone, but I'm telling you now. My life is back in order, I haven't heard from my dad in ages, and I'm quite frankly glad. I have learned more from poetry, ever since I met Lena. I have a talent, I learned, and I can use it freehand whenever I want, just like Lena can draw and paint. So, I guess the purpose of my story is to treat others with respect, like I learned from Carmen. I didn't treat her well, and she didn't treat me well. But I got over it and she got over it and saved my life. Now we're good friends, and step-siblings, but I guess it is just to help others when they are in need. Thank you Carmen, for letting me be here today.

THE END, THE VERY END!