“Stop telling me what to do!” “I’m 16 years old. I’m old enough to make my own decisions!” I shouted to my parents… I ran out the door thinking of never turning back. I ran and kept running until I was as far as I could get. By that time it was 8 o’clock. The sun was going down and the dark coldness covered the park. I felt guilty for what I had said and done. It was time to head back and say sorry. I was walking home all alone in the cold night just thinking to myself only a block away. I finally arrived home and didn’t see my parents around. I walked into the kitchen to find a note on the fridge. “Rebecca, if you see this we assume you came home. There is food in the fridge your father and I went out to get some things. Love mom and dad.” I took the food out of the fridge and ate. After eating I cleaned up and headed to the living room to watch TV and waited for my parents to get home. A few hours pass by when I got a phone call from an unknown number. I decided to answer it and what I heard an unfamiliar voice. The lady began to talk and she said, “Hi is this Rebecca? I wanted you to inform you that your parents have gotten into a severe car crash and neither of them made it. We have contacted your only relative so they should be coming down as soon as possible.” I broke down crying knowing that the last thing I told my parents was that I hated them. I knew that from now on nothing would be the same… That night I cried myself to sleep.

The next day I woke up from the sound of the doorbell. I got up off the couch walked to the bathroom mirror and faced a broken hearted girl with puffy eyes. I washed my face and rushed to the door. I opened the door to see man who looked like he was in his late 20’s. I was unsure about who he was until he finally spoke. “Hi are you Rebecca? I’m Chad your older brother.” I stood there in shock. I had an older brother? Why hadn’t mom and dad told me about him? “May I come in?” he said while I was just staring at him. “Of course come in.” I insisted after coming back to reality. He came in and we walked into the kitchen to talk. We sat down and I had a ton of questions to ask him. However some reason nothing would come out of my mouth. I was speechless, in shock, and still broken. It seemed like we talked for hours about why he hasn’t been around and why I didn’t know about him. “So what you’re telling me is that you have been here all along but mom and dad thought you would be a bad influence so they kicked you out?” I asked concerned. “Pretty much. Now let’s cut to the chase I heard what had happened with them. I’m as devastated as you are but you can’t live here all by yourself. I was thinking why not come and live with me in California?” He replied back. I stood there on the verge of tears but I knew that it was the best for me. “Okay. I’ll go with you.” “Perfect! We leave in 3 days.” 3 days… 3 days to say bye to my friends and everyone I know.
The 3 days pass and I’ve got all my things packed up and ready to go. I was sad to be leaving my childhood and my deceased parents but I knew I had to do what I knew was best. Chad helped me load all my stuff into the moving truck. We put everything in the truck and headed off to the airport. We arrived at the airport and I could feel my heart start to break. I kept it in and decided to be strong. We got our plane tickets and got onto the plane. We got our seats and settled in. Before I knew it we were up in the air. I stared out the window just waiting to wake up from this scary dream but instead I woke up to reality. Hours later we finally landed and got our luggage, we headed out to his car and I saw a picture of a girl that looked about my age. He saw me glancing and quickly took the picture down and stuffed it in his pocket. “Who is she?” I asked. “None of your business.” He mumbled. It was silent the whole car ride to his house. We arrived at this nice luxurious apartment building, parked and got our luggage. We walked into the lobby and were greeted by a friendly concierge. We got into the elevator and pressed 10th floor. He got his keys out and unlocked his apartment. I walked in to a decent looking apartment but nothing like my house at home. He showed me my room and I settled in.
Days past from the first day I have gotten here. I’ve been getting along with my brother fairly well but I’m still wondering whom that girl is. It was dinnertime and we sat down to eat. Ever since I got here we’ve been telling each other everything so I thought maybe it’s time to bring it up again. “I know you told me it was none of my business but I want to know who she is.” Before I could say anything else he says “okay.” “She was my first love. We were supposed to get married until she got into the same tragedy mom and dad did.” I didn’t know what to say so I got up from my seat walked over to him and hugged him. I was glad he told me. I felt like over the past days from when we first met till now I knew he was always going to be there for me. He was my brother the person I knew would always love me just like my parents did. We finished dinner and I decided it’s time he knows “Hey Chad, I know it was hard for you to tell me that but I just wanted you to know that I’m grateful for you.” “Me too sis, me too.”
Months pass and I’m happily living with my big brother in the shiny state of California. Although we fight over the little things it hasn’t gotten to the point where he doesn’t want me around. I start school next week and that means another new adventure. That also means a brand new start for me. I’m not sure how that’s going to go but I know I’m going to like it a lot. I’ve made a few friends over the summer and lost a few too. I miss my parents but I know they would be happy that I’m happy. Chad and I were thinking about visiting there grave before we got busy. See them, see how things are looking even though they’re gone but I feel like they’re still here. I know they’re always watching over me. I still regret telling them what I said but they knew I always loved them and that I was so very grateful for them. They were my parents I loved them like they loved me.