“Do you remember when they got married?” I asked my brother.  We were shopping for Christmas presents for our father and stepmother.  I sometimes had nightmares about coming home and all of their stuff being cleared out and my parents being gone without a word.  My stepmother had been nothing but a great mother to…

I let the cold mountain air float all around me before I went back inside.  I told Max I was trying to acclimate to our new life in the mountains, but I hadn’t told him the entire truth.  Not really.  I did want to try and get used to the cold, but I also found…

I knew I would never be able to atone for my mistake.  Never.  I knew the fact my entire family fell apart was completely my fault and no one could convince me otherwise.  I left the house after curfew by sneaking out my bedroom window, just like I always do.  Earlier in the evening, I swore to…

Growing up, I was never really certain about what I wanted to do as an adult.  My parents were never around too much since they both usually worked two jobs to keep food on the table so my brothers and I took care of ourselves.  When it came to our education, our parents were serious, but not overwhelming. …

For whatever reason, the town I live in will not accept ‘newcomers’.  Which makes life for me a bit harder when I could not fit in if my life depended on it.  I moved to Maryville last year because I got transferred to the only bank they had in town.  I was told it would be a temporary position…

“Could they have stolen anything at all?” The police officer asked.  “Not that I am aware of,” I said, my body still shaking.  “You sure?” He asked for at least the fifth time.  Like the fact I was a woman was going to change the fact on whether or not a few small town kids had broken…

“We don’t have another choice,” I told my friend, Sam.  “We have to take this test before he will let us leave.  Just tell the truth and we will be fine.”   Sam patted my shoulder and acted like nothing was going on.  Like everything that had happened tonight was a normal Friday night house party.  “We will…

“Leave us my dear.”  As soon as my father said those four words, I knew everything had changed.  That my whole life was going to change.  My heart skipped a beat knowing that my father was finally going to stand up for me against my mother.  He drew his back straighter as she slowly turned…

“It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat,” he whispered to me.  He had come out of his chair and to the sideline.  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I responded.  “I never plan to lose.”  “Then maybe you should start trying to actually win,” Sam whispered as he backed up to the…