Left Behind

I didn’t understand. How could I? For years I have asked myself why? How could someone do that? But for years I had no answer.

In my pocket, I had a half eaten Twix bar, a ticket stub and my uncles credit card. He would be furious when he found out that not only had I run away in the dead of night, but that I had also taken his credit card with me. I couldnt very well get anywhere without money, so I had to. Well that’s what I kept telling myself at least, my conciousness said otherwise. I still hated Momma for dumping me with Uncle Jerry when she met the so called “man of her dreams” Rodney Hunt. I still remember that blistering, hot summer night when she came home and told me that she was leaving. “But why Momma?” “Because I have to go look for a new place to live!"

"Your leavin' me all alone here?" "No baby, I'm gonna come back and get you when I find a place." "I don't want to be here alone Momma!" "Your not gonna be alone Kelci, your sweet Uncle Jerry is gonna watch you until I get back." "I don't like Uncle Jerry, he cursea to much!" "Well yes honey, that's what happens with drunkards." "Huh?" "Oh nothing baby, Rod and I will be back as soon as we can!" "Your going with that man?" "That 'man' is gonna be your new daddy pretty soon!" "But I don't want him to! I want my old daddy back, I like my old daddy better! Get him back, I WANT HIM BACK!" Momma had smacked me hard then, I yelped and brought my grubby hands to my injured cheek. "Dont you ever and I mean EVER, talk about that man, I hate him for leaving us!" "I'm sorry Momma!" I sobbed, the tears flowed down my cheeks and onto the ground, forming a puddle of pain. I watched as the hard lines that masked her aged face slowly meltwe away into the sweet face I had once loved. " It's okay baby, its-" The shrill call of a waiting taxi driver broke through the moment between us. Her head snapped to the door, then back to me "I've gotta go Kelci, but I swear that I'll be back soon for you!" As a naive seven year old, I believed her. Eight years passed and she had never come back. My aching for her turned into hate every time the door bell rang and it wasn't her. Everytime I sat by the window and waited, hoping that the next car that passed would be her. But it never was. I hated her for leaving me with Uncle Jerry, a drunk old man who lived on the couch surrounded by bear bottles and burnt out memories of his past. I hated her for leaving me with a man who made me get a job at the age of nine just to feed his compulsive desire for alcohol.

So here I was, a fifteen year old adventurin' out to find her and get revenge for the life she left me in. A life of broken glass and hollow promises.