Chapter 11: You are Not Alone

The class was dismissed.

Hey, want to go skateboarding?
Sure.
I'll wait for you outside the gate.

But before I could exit the room, Harris called me.

Your Dad said we should go home together.
Who says anything about following his advice?
For god’s sake, Cassidy! You arrived late last night, you left early this morning. He was damn worried about you!
Worried? I don’t think that word is in his dictionary.
Get your act together, Cassidy!
What’s wrong with you, huh?
I should be the one to ask you that. Why do you hate everybody?
Don’t go butting into someone else’ life!

I then headed to the door. Harris grabbed my hand and closed the classroom door hard. His grip tightened. My wrist started to ache.

Could you just drop your act?
And what are you going to do huh? Bring my mother back to life!? She’s the only one who understands me! Nobody cares for me anymore. Even my dad. He wants to marry that Ingrid and he will leave me too!

He suddenly released me from his clutch. I was crying now. I can’t hold it back. Unexpectedly, he embraced me so tight.

I have no one. Why can’t people just leave me alone?
I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I’m sorry Cassie. Hush now. I won’t leave you. I’ll always be with you from now on, okay?