"And who is your little friend Maria?" Father asked taking another sip of his coffee.

He sat comfortably on the couch. I stood there uncomfortably counting the seconds to distract myself. One second, two seconds.

"His name is Jack." I said.

"Oh Jack is it?"

I just nodded.

"How often have you been seeing him Maria?"

How should I answer this? There was a lump forming in my throat. I closed my eyes. I started again. One second, two seconds, three seconds, fou-

"Maria, I asked you a question." He said cooly.

I swallowed the forming lump.

"Awhile." I choked out.

"You need to be more specific."

"I don't know exactly how long..."

"I do not want you to see that boy anymore."

I the room started to spin. I had a horrid feeling in my stomach. This wasn't happening! It could not be happening!

"No..." I thought out loud.

"To your room." He mumbled.

"I won't let-"

"To your room!" He shouted.

I took a breath to calm myself. It was fine I would just go down the fire escape anyway. I ran to my room slamming the door behind me. In a frenzy I rushed to the window, but found something new. A lock had been placed on my window and it needed a key. I felt my heart fall. For a moment I stood in a state of shock. When I finally took everything in I dropped to the ground and wept.

Jack knew that if I didn't come back I was probably being held against my will. So patiently I waited at my window. I took deep long breaths to calm myself. Finely after about twenty minutes he appeared at my window. My heart skipped a beat. It was such a relief to see him. He looked at my tear streamed face. The window is locked I mouthed. He sighed. I pressed my hand to the window. Jack did the same. I'll just stay here until morning, he mouthed. I shook my head. He nodded and laid down on the fire escape.

"I'm staying!" Jack shouted loud enough so I could hear.

I laughed a little. He made me laugh in the most serious moments. I knew he shouldn't stay but no matter how hard I tried he wouldn't move. I should have known better then to come back home. I should have also known better then to show Jack to my family. Thinking back I realize how amazingly stupid that was. But at least I had Jack with me. I'd be lucky if I ever got out now. I took a long deep breath. I looked through the window to see Jack. I blew him a kiss. He smiled. Get some rest, He mouthed. I nodded. Was it already nine o'clock? I usually stay up much later then nine, but that day had drained the life out of me. I slept like I hadn't slept in years.

In the morning when I woke up Jack was't at the window anymore and I knew he was at work. I wondered what the headline was. I woke up early that day. Probably because I'd went to bed at nine the night before. I dressed myself. It was always nice to pick out your own clothing and dress yourself. Independence on it's own was nice. I took a deep breath and looked in the mirror. I looked fine and "ladylike". Making my mother proud. I rolled my eyes at the thought. I thought of Jack. He didn't deserve what he'd gone through. If only my parents understood him like I did. Could give him a chance and see what I saw in him. For them to see why I loved him. Oh I loved him...

I walked out of my room. I was hoping with all of my heart that maybe in my fathers rage he'd forgotten to lock the door. I walked down the hall slowly. But what I saw wasn't what I at all I expected. Mother was at there table hunched over a cup of coffee. I remembered her always saying coffee was a mans drink. Yet there she was staring down at the half empty cup. I looked at her. This was a surprise.

"Maria," She said without looking at me. "I don't know where it went wrong... It's not the way I expected it to be."

There was a pause but I didn't know what to say... I'm not even sure if I was supposed to speak.

"I'm sorry. I don't know where to begin with all I've done wrong." Mother continued. "I could have been a better parent. I should have been a better parent."

She sighed. I sill wasn't sure what to say. I knew if I opened my mouth my words would probably come out stuttering and I'd be completely tongue tied. So I just stared at her. She cleared her throat to speak again, "I don't know what I can do to fix this... If anything."

"M-mother I... I mean I..." I gave up half way through the sentence. I predicted it would come out sounding amazingly stupid sounding. I knew it. I took a deep breath. She looked down at her coffee for a moment then took a long sip. I would have needed that too. She sighed.

"I still don't approve of that boy. I feel terrible to crush you in this way." She went on. "I understand that I haven't been a good mother. But you must understand."

At least I'd gotten some sort of sympathy. Barley any though. A lovely build up for something that makes me feel worse about my life. How amazingly twisted and sick. She was trying to justify something and it made me horrible! Sadistic!

"One day maybe we can have our family be at peace again." Mother said.

No we can't.