On the inside I was jumping for joy. I'm sure it was showing on my face because my dad said," I think we could work something out. Maybe she could stay with us over the weekend or every other week."

I said," I vote weekend. I don't want to be torn between two houses every other week. I want a home. I want to live with my Aunt Susan in a home, and have things like they used to be, when I still had my family."

My dad looked at me and said," Sarah, we will always be your family. I know you don't like us right now and you aren't very happy with me or your step mom, but we love you. We will always love you."

I said as I got up to walk out," You didn't always love me."

I pulled the door shut behind me and ran up to my room.

I started packing all my things. I didn't care that Aunt Susan didn't have the house yet, and she hadn't officially been hired at the hospital.

She came upstairs a few minutes later and said," Sit, we need to talk."

I sat down beside her on my bed.

She said," You can't talk to your dad like that. It's disrespectful and you know better."

I said," But it was the truth Aunt Susan! I wasn't lying!"

She said," Hey, calm down. I know it was the truth, but you still aren't allowed to talk to him like that. He's your father. No matter what he did, what happened in the past, or what you do he will always be your dad and because of that he deserves your respect. Okay?"

I started to get up, but she grabbed my arm and pulled me back and asked again," Okay?"

I sat down at the end of the bed away from her as tears started from my eyes.

She stayed where she was and asked," What are you thinking?"

I wiped my tears away and said," I'm supposed to respect him, but he walked out and left me. How can I respect him when he didn't want me, he didn't want to take care of me. He chose not to be my dad. I didn't get to choose my life. I wish I had; cause my mom would still be here, and I'd be at home and we'd be happy."

She moved over beside me and wrapped her arms around me, pulling me close. She kissed the side of my head and whispered," I know sweetie. I wish it could still be like that, but we can't change the past. Sarah, your dad is here now so let's at least give him a chance. He loves you. I promise he loves you."

I shook my head no and said," I don't believe you. I can't. He can't love me. He Can't!"

She said," Hey, hey, calm down. Take a deep breath."

I pulled away from her and walked over and picked up my picture of my mom and brother from my nightstand.

She walked up behind me and gently pulled me around so I was looking at her.

She asked calmly," Why do you think he can't love you?"

I ran my fingers over the picture over and over again and said," Because she loved me."

Aunt Susan said," Yeah, she did, but how does that change that your dad loves you?"

I said," She loved me… she gave up every thing for me. We didn't have time together; we didn't get to be mother and daughter. She worked over half of her day to support me and she was still happy, because I had a chance of having a life outside of the projects. She gave me the chance to rise above the life I had been given. How can you say my dad loved me when he never did any of those things? He never wanted me."

She took the picture from my hand and sat it down on the nightstand and held both my arms and turned me to look at her.
She said," Sarah, I know that your dad didn't take care of you when you were little, and I know you hold a lot of anger because of that, but he is here now. And he wants a chance to make things up to you."

I asked," What if I decide not to give him a second chance? What if I decide he doesn't deserve it?"

Aunt Susan said," Sarah, sweetie, you can hate him for the rest of your life, but it will never change the fact that he is your father."

I pulled away and laid down on my bed. I pulled my covers up and curled up tight.

She said," Sarah, come on, talk to me. Sarah, you can't just shut me out. You have to talk to me if this is going to work."

I turned over and looked up at her. I said as tears poured from my eyes," I miss my mom, please, just take me home. Take me away."

She laid down beside me and pulled me into her arms and said," I miss her too, and I am going to take you home. It's just going to be a few weeks before we can leave. I have to go back and pack up my apartment and have every thing shipped down here and we have to set up the new house."

I said," I'll go back with you and help you pack. Please, don't leave me here."

She said," You have to stay here and go to school. You can't miss school. I'll be back in two weeks. Shh…"

We laid there for a while until I had calmed down.

She rubbed my arm and said," Okay, go wash you face and get ready, and I'll take you school shopping. Go on."