“The Truth”: An Original Story

“Amy, we want the truth from you, nothing more and nothing less.” I shift in my seat, rapidly attempting to come up with an excuse for why I snuck out about three hours ago.

“I’m sorry? You wouldn’t believe what I what the real reason is.” My mother and father glared at me in an aggravated silence. My mother finally spoke up and told me to go to my room. With nothing but a sigh I made the walk of shame towards the stairs. As I ascend the stairs, I thought about her. Sage. My best friend who had sent me a few text messages earlier stating that she was having an anxiety attack and she was seriously considering ending her life. I had snuck out many times before for Sage. Most of them had been for her frequent anxiety and panic attacks. The other times were for her PTSD episodes.

Sage had been through quite a lot these past few years. The youngest sibling, Falcon had been born with Cerebral Palsy. Falcon was unable to walk, and sometimes he wasn’t able to move his arms. Their father had been extremely abusive to their mother as well. Falcon, Sage, And Dawn had experienced a lot of emotional pain.

Dawn, being the oldest had moved out recently for college. Dawn promised that she would come back once she had the money and a house to care for them and help them escape for the better. But, Sage wasn’t all to sure she wanted to move in with Dawn. Dawn had a short temper and tended to yell frequently when she got angry. It scared both Falcon and herself. Sage had never pushed herself to the brink of suicide before. So, I had known it was serious when she told me about it. Her parents were both out earlier that night. Her mom was at work but her father was spending the night at the end of a bottle, so Sage was taking care of Falcon for the night. Normally with my parents permission, I could go over and spend a few days hanging out with the two of them.

Lately their father never came home. He was just out there partying and doing whatever things. Paige, Sage’s mom was home sometimes. Me and her got along, although she never really talked much besides saying goodbye to Sage and Falcon when she went off to work or to announce that she had successfully ordered something for us to eat and that it was on the table for us. I felt real bad for her. She worked all day and night to provide for them. Only to have the money stolen or just barely the right amount to pay off some bills. My parents never really understood the amount of pain Sage and Falcon went through. They thought that the only solution to help Paige was that she needed to take a stand for herself and get her kids out of there. But, Paige is terrified to stand up to Jack, her husband of 16 years. They got married really young, believing in love at first sight. But to Paige’s luck that was a ticket to some years of relentless abuse.

It’s safe to say that I don’t believe in that.

It’s February and I promised to stop myself from acting out for her.  I didn’t sneak out just for Paige, you know. I have taken up writing my feelings and events of the day in a journal which has been proven to be helpful in learning what I need to do to better myself. I tell myself that within the next few days I am going to call this special place called Mission Possible. It is an organization that helps women and children of abuse rise up against their problems. Lately I have been writing down a schedule of times, when Paige goes to work, when Falcon gets home from primary school and the reoccurring times that Jack comes home from partying to get money or to sleep. That way I can help the Mission Possible workers to help my friend. I even found out Dawn’s contact information if needed. Either way, this year I am going to stay true to myself.

I am going to help my friend.