I'm not used to writing these kinds of stories but I thought I'd give it a try.

Every child that is born into this world is confused at first but then they see a loving, caring woman smiling down at you. That's how it was for me, but through the years my family changed, they grew apart.

Year one. First family picture, my mom and father smiling down at me and father was holding my mother from behind like this was what he wanted.

Year two I am able to stand, my mother and father each hold my hand both are smiling but both are slowly growing apart from each other.

Year three, I'm holding my mothers hand and my father is standing next to me smiling, although it's a forced smile.

Year four, mom and dad are standing next to me faking a smile, while I am smiling away, I'm oblivious to the situation our family is in.

Year five, my father is further away from us, my mothering holding down her tears, I am slowly understanding what's wrong, my smile slowly becoming a frown.

Year six, I am standing next to my mother with a forced smile, my mother has dark bags under her eyes, no one else in the photo.

Year seven mother has changed, and I am slowly breaking, just as my father did.

Year eight my mother is three feet away from me and is a mess, I only half smile because of what she's become.

Year nine, I've grown out of calling them mother and father, the witch aka Helen Cox and the devil that left us, David young, he changed his last name before leaving us behind. There is no on but me in this picture, I don't smile or even try to fake it. I have no reason to smile I haven't smiled in two years.

Even though I was the only one in the picture, I still live with Helen. My name is Alex Cox, although I'd rather not have the same last name as a woman who ignored me. Tomorrow I will turn ten, forgive me for not giving details about how I look, I'm not good looking, nor am I special, but I'll tell you what I look like and how my personality is and my likes and dislikes.

I am tall for my age, I am five foot two, I check the things my so called parents didn't check regularly, my height, Weight, and my feelings, I hide them away so I don't break completely. I'm a little bit strong for my age also, although my arms are slender and look like they'll break when I carry something heavy, I live in dimmsdale.

My eyes are bright purple, the kids at my school try to bully my about that, but I've had enough of this life, I won't end it, but I am not going to give them the satisfaction of getting mad and entertaining them. I have black hair that goes down to my shoulders, at this moment I am in my room looking out the window as Helen waits for the babysitter, it's funny really, of all the times she left me alone in this house she never hired a babysitter before, I've been alone in this house ever since that man left us. A girl with red hair pulled up in a rusty old car, they started talking, great...She's probably the type to act nice but be mean as soon as the parents leave. I may be wrong but it's just that she gives out this evil aura that sucks out all the happiness in a kid. Not that I have any left.

I sighed and walked down stairs, the redhead and Helen were talking, "I'm sorry you have to stay the night, I really appreciate it, so here." Helen said and handed the redhead a wad of cash, which ticked me off, but I didn't say anything I just sat at the bottom of the stairs and waited for her to leave.

Once she left I got up to introduce myself, "Hi my name is-

"CLEANING THE BATHROOM WITH YOUR TOOTHBRUSH!" She yelled. I stared at her blankly, "As I was saying my name is Alex and I usually fall asleep after eleven."

"Smartass huh?" She cackled evilly, "Then I guess you get to clean the whole house with your toothbrush! And then you can go straight to bed!"

She laughed in my face, "Uh...No thanks I'll just clean the house regularly. Who are you by the way?" I asked casually. She had a devious smirk, "You haven't heard the stories about me?"

I shook my head and then she rubbed her hands together, "Then I suppose I better show you?"

I walked past her and went into the kitchen and into the closet to get the cleaning supplies, when I turned around I found the redhead staring at me, "The hell you think you're doing?" She sounds angry, "Getting the cleaning supplies."

I tried to pass her but she blocked my path, "didn't I say to use your toothbrush?"

I nodded and then she grabbed the collar of my shirt, "THEN WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU DOWN HERE?!" I twitched as she yelled next to my ear, I don't like yelling. "Please don't yell in my ear."

"It'll take forever to clean the house if I use my toothbrush." I told her.

She was really mad at me but then she calmed down said in a whisper, "Those are some interesting family photos..."

...Don't talk about them. I turned and put the cleaning supplies back, "Good boy, if you just listen to what I say, then I won't have to yell at you." She smiled evilly and went to the living room to watch t.v while I clean everything.

I feel like I'm one of the few she's babysitting. A few hours later I finished cleaning everything, I cracked my back and threw my toothbrush away, "Can't use that now." I muttered and went to the living room.

There she was sitting down like she owned the place, I went over and cleared my throat, "I'm done."

She looked over at me and I saw something in her pink eyes, she was forming a plan, a smile spread on her face, "Really? You forgot the living room."

I looked around and saw everything was clean, "But there's-

The redhead got up and picked up a glass of water that was sitting on the coffee table, she tipped the cup and the water spread out on the floor, "You sure?" She asked nonchalantly.

Sure I'm a kid and I should be afraid of her, but I'm not afraid of anything anymore. "I'm not cleaning that up..." I turned and tried to walk away, "I'm tired of you acting like a little shit." Her voice was low but calm, she grabbed something and blocked my path again, she had a real sword, I looked closely, it's dull but it'll still hurt to get hit by that. She wouldn't actually hit me...Right.

My question was answered as she took a swing at me, I fell back so I wouldn't be hit, "Did I say you were finished?!"

I've never felt fear before, "N-no..." I walked away and came back with a cloth and got on my knees, "Uh ah, use your shirt." She told me and laughed evilly, I gulped I was never proud of my body. "But-

"Enough with the BUTS just do what I fucking tell you, Jesus how stupid are you?!" I flinched and hesitantly took off my shirt. She's crazy...But not so much that she'll kill me, I took off my shirt and blushed, she was watching me like a hawk, "For such a smartass you're really skinny, talking back like that will definitely get your ass kicked someday." She laughed, but I felt like she was giving me advice

I know the way I act will get me in trouble one day, but...I can't help it, I was left alone with my so called mother and then she ignores me most of the time, so tell me exactly why I deserve to be judged. I cleaned up the spill and looked to the redhead, "Uh...I finished...C-can I get another shirt?" I asked, this sucks...Of course I had to get stuck with a psycho. She shook her head and smiled deviously, "This is your punishment for disobeying me."

I sighed heavily, "I'm sorry...I didn't get your name..." I looked at the floor. "Hard of hearing I see, well you'll find out soon enough, for now get me something to eat and go to bed." She told me, I obeyed and went to the kitchen, once I made her something I walked up to my room, it was only eight thirty, but she actually scares me...It's strange, I like it...

The next day I was woken up by a loud screech, "Wake up smartass!"

I rubbed my eyes, it was afternoon already I usually wake up super early, I put on my clothes and went downstairs. "Yes?"

She was sitting on the couch, looking bored, "Your mom should be here in a little bit." She told me. I nodded.

I decided to wait at the stairs, I'm not excited that she's coming back, but I need her to come back, I'm not going to try and tell on this lady, but I'd rather have silence than an angry redhead yelling at me. A couple hours later the redhead got restlessly and annoyed, "Where the hell is this lady? It's already past the time she said she'll be back."

I just stared at the floor as the hours went by, "Fuck sakes!" She yelled, did...She...No, even she would do that. I went upstairs to Helen's room, I turned the knob, it was locked, I stared at the door handle stunned. She never locks this door. I paced back and forth, it's possible...But if it's true, then what do I do? I tried turning it and then I kicked it, anger started to take over, that bitch...I kicked it harder and harder, "HEY WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?" She yelled and came running up, I kicked one last time, and then the door swung open, it was clean and dark, I opened the light, it's too clean...I walked in and felt the redheads eyes on me, "The hell is wrong with you?"

On the bed was a note, "Seriously? You couldn't even say it to my fucking face!?" I screamed, on the note read 'I'm sorry' nothing else was on it. She could have just left the stupid freaking door open, I punched the wall and missed the wood by an inch, she walked in and saw the note, she looked at me, she had the same look I had, but then she snickered, "Sucks to be you right now."

I turned and lounge at her, "Shut up!" She grabbed my arm and put it behind my back and then she pushed up against the wall, "You better calm down." She warned me, she's strong, but I'm stronger, I resisted and she seemed to be in shock at my strength, I almost had my arm in frton of me, but she kicked the back of my knee and pulled my other arm back, my face slammed against the wall again, "I said. Calm. Down."

My breathing was heavy, how can I calm down like this!? I'm now alone. I was crying, "Let me go! Just leave me here!"

I fell to my knees and she let go, I covered my face, everything I was holding in just come out. I cried and cried, "Why do they hate me so much!?"

She wrapped her arms around me and I felt warmth, I haven't felt this in so long, I cried harder. "What's wrong with me...?"

She sighed, she's obviously not the kind of person to comfort people, "Nothing is wrong with you, they're idiots for leaving you." My heart skipped a beat, no one has cared about me like this before, no one has tried to talk to me about what's bothering me, my cries echoed through the house.

"My name is Vicky Valentine, you wanna live with me?" She asked. She tried so hard to get me to be afraid of her...So why is she offering me to stay with her? Did something like this happen to her? I pondered her offer, if I stayed here I'll end up so alone I might end my own life...I guess I should go, I nodded and wiped my eyes, but what is there to live for at this point?

Vicky put her arm around me and pulled me along to her car. I stared at the house one last time, I should just burn it to the ground...I got into the passenger seat and buckled up, "Why are you help me?" I asked her with my voice trembling, she smirked, "Let's just say I know what it's like to be alone."

After ten minutes of driving Vicky stopped and told me to follow her, I listened and kept my eyes on the ground, she opened a door and went in, I followed her and then she yelled, "MOM, DAD, GET DOWN HERE!"

I heard some footsteps coming towards us quickly, "Y-yes, Vicky?" A woman answered, there was fear in her voice, "W-who's this?" A man asked. Vicky growled, obviously annoyed by them, "His parents ditched him, so he's staying here for awhile."

Vicky stormed up the stairs and slammed a door, "What did she do you?" The woman rushed to my side, I looked up and they looked worried, "Nothing...She was telling the truth...My dad left when I was six and my mom just...Left me yesterday while Vicky was watching over me..." I explained to them. "Oh my...I'm so sorry..." Mrs. Valentine said. I sniffled and said, "Vicky said I can stay here, is that alright with you?"

Thanks for reading!

Rilurz~