4. The First Change

As I heard the words that I knew would change my life from that point on, my heart sank. "No, no, no," I screamed. I began to break down, crying and screaming after hearing the news of my parents' divorce. My mind was in disarray. I rushed upstairs to my room, but my mom followed me. She hugged me as we cried together. "Why are you both divorcing?" I sobbed. "I don't want this either, but it's for the best," my mom replied. We spent some more time in my room, but then I couldn't bear to stay at home any longer. The last thing I wanted was to be around my family. Filled with a combination of anger, sadness, and hurt, I had to go where I felt most comfortable. I left home and took the short fifteen-second walk to Kyleigh's house.

When I arrived at Kyleigh's house, they weren't surprised by my arrival. It seemed like they were expecting me, as they already knew about the news. They embraced me and simply offered their presence to distract me, which was exactly what I needed. I stayed there for at least an hour, and then there was a knock on the door. It was my dad, who had walked over to Kyleigh's house to check up on me. The last thing I wanted to do was talk to him. I didn't even want to be around him for that matter, and it stayed that way for some time.

Going back to school on Monday morning after receiving the news that had turned my world upside down was a daunting challenge. Staying focused became a struggle, and finding happiness seemed almost impossible. The thought of my parents' divorce consumed my mind, greatly impacting my mood. School became a difficult place to find joy, especially knowing that each afternoon I would return home to find my father staying in the guest room in the basement. Eventually after some time, he found a two-bedroom apartment just a fifteen-minute drive away from our home. The day he moved out marked a pivotal moment in my young mind, triggering a profound shift in my perception. As a ten-year-old girl, understanding the reasons behind my parents' divorce proved challenging. They spared me the intricate details, as they didn't want to speak bad of each other or sway my opinion. However, I formed my own perception and grew to resent my dad. It seemed to me that he had already given up on our family, fostering a sense of abandonment.