Life falls apart in the slow motion of a hurricane

Everything comes tumbling down

And is blown away

Scattered pieces never found

Must rebuild but need stable ground

Sinking in the quicksand of time

Struggling against it

Falling ever deeper into its grip

Waiting for a knight and shining armor

But only finding rats scurrying in the night

Biting

Clawing

Gnawing

Unable to escape the pain

Laying broken on the floor

Sobbing

I can't take this anymore

I don't know how things got so bad. At first, Mom and Dad were still together, and happy. But then they started having fights... Bad fights. Dad started drinking too much, and smoking, and got fired from his job. Mom locked herself in her room. Dad slapped her when he got mad. Mom got depressed, and was fired from her job, also. And then, one day... They were gone.

I woke up to a gray morning. All was quiet. At this time, six A.M., Mom and Dad were usually up, yelling at each other. Only the patter of the rain on my windows could be heard.

I slipped out of bed, in my blue nightgown, and tiptoed downstairs. It was still silent. The air was tense; something was not right:

I walked over to my parent's room. I slowly opened the door, and was shocked to see that their bed was empty. I was expecting this. It had been so bad that this could have happened, and I knew it. But still, horror shot through me. What would I do?

Their phones were gone. I could not call anyone. Our neighbor were not trustworthy. There was only one thing to do, other than get the police, but they would take my parents away. I would have to find them.

I knew where they had went. They always talked of their paradise, before they started fighting. They would go to Milan, Italy.

Doubt pierced through my mind. How would I get there? I would surely have to go on a plane, but did I have the money? Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Mom's credit card... It would at least have enough to fly to Italy, right? Or maybe take two flights? That would mean four flights in all... If I found my parents. And even though the card felt wrong in my hands, I kept it.

I packed a bag full of clothes, books, and other essential objects. I did not pack food--I figured I could buy some when I got really hungry.

I stepped out of the front door, locked it behind me, put up my umbrella, and stared into the distance, where the city was shrouded in mist. The airport was in the distance--it would be a long walk, a day or two. But I was determined to find my parents, and not the shells of themselves that they had become, but my gentle, loving parents. Those were the people I was going to bring home with me.

" I don't know how things got so bad." How did my life turn out like the old barn across the street. It was my mother at first but now it was my father how could this have happened I was only 11. All that was left of my life was the terrible stench of old granny's house. How could I possibly live like this. A child needed there parents, I didn't have any how was I ever going to think of life as relaxing, fun, normal. Why did it have to be me why was my life the one life to be ruined.

"I don't know how things got so bad." I said as I kicked a left over cigarette bud towards the tree. "Well, despite the fact that we are smoking on campus, got detention for throwing a tantrum and flipping over a table...I don't think it's too bad..." Jacob's shortcut bangs fell against his brow, making the sweat drench his t-shirt. I loved the way it did that. Biting my lip, I said: "D-do you think things would be different if only we had listened to our parents as littles?" Jacob scowled, "Yeah I'd definitely be the CEO of McInedible's or something." I frowned, remembering Jessica's mothers, being the leader of the religious church group in the city. It's sounds ridiculous, I know. But she's rich. And she even proves that to us by bringing Jessica new boxes of foundation, mascara, and new Prada shoes weekly. I stared at the tree that Jacob was smoking against, and how it was able to support not only his weight, but the burden of our secret hideout. I wasn't nearly as strong. My head spinning; I slowly walked back to campus with Jacob's hand on my back. I'd fall without it.

One minute I was laughing, happy, giddy even...

Positive outlook on life.

I hurriedly and animatedly told all of the people in my little world, just how Together I was. As if I had something to prove.

Then I was sobbing, on the floor, barely able to keep it together

Thinking of how much I hate my life and how it's turning out.

What a joke, I thought, to everyone hearing me state how well things are going, when they all know I'll switch any moment...

Up and down. Up and down. Rollercoaster.

"That's how Stephanie is. Take her with a grain of salt. You can expect she'll plummet soon enough."

How...utterly...

Embarrassing.