Chapter 1

1 Mom came back from a doctor's appointment, and after that, she was always crying over this one piece of paper.

I snuck it to Dad, hoping he could help.

He ripped it up, screaming at her, "How long are you going to keep up this sick act? Now you're using our kid against me?"

He slammed the door, and I climbed into bed with Mom, hugging her tight and crying, "Mom, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have shown it to Dad."

Mom just wiped my tears and gave me a sad smile.

Later, Mom really did die.

And Dad, who never seemed to love her, held her body and cried like a crazy man.

......

Mom hasn't talked to me in forever.

No matter what I say, she just stares into space.

I mostly hang out on the couch, playing with my Legos.

When I'm hungry, I grab snacks and fruit from the fridge.

I really want to call Dad.

But Mom's phone is dead.

I plugged it in to charge, but when it turned on, I needed a password.

I don't know Mom's password.

So I just have to wait for Dad to call us.

But deep down, I know he won't.

He doesn't want us anymore.

He's been living with Carol and her daughter, Tiffany.

The last time I saw him, he was at my school for field day, holding Tiffany.

I was so excited to see him.

It had been ages since I'd seen my dad.

I wanted to run to him and yell, "Dad! Dad!"

But Mom grabbed me and said, "Sweetie, that's not your dad. You're mistaken."

No way.

That was my dad.

I know it.

I still wanted to yell, but Mom picked me up and took me to a corner.

I hid in her arms.

Watching Dad hold Tiffany.

Wiping her forehead.

Giving her water.

Tearing open a chocolate bar and feeding it to her.

When she fell while running and scraped her knee, he ran over, checking her wound, asking, "Does it hurt? Here, let me kiss it. Make it all better."

Tiffany started crying, reaching out to Dad, "Ouchie! Carry me! Carry me!"

Dad picked her up.

Gently wiped the tears from her face, whispering sweet nothings.

I heard Dad say he was taking her for burgers.

I understood.

I was wrong.

That wasn't my dad.