Grace Under The Stars

Twelve year olds never worry about the future or what comes next, we just live, but today... Today is different. My life went from light to dark with the snap of a twig. I went from being loved to just being another body in a house full of girls, and then, Victor happened and what was starting to feel like stability turned into running at the crack of dawn and hoping we'd make it on our own.

...We didn’t pack bags—we packed memories, and left everything else behind. I don’t know if it was bravery or fear that kept my feet moving, but each step away from that house was a step closer to becoming someone new. The world outside was colder than I imagined, louder too, but at least it was ours. At least we weren’t waiting on footsteps down the hall or words sharp enough to cut skin.