When I had an actual home I was an only child with very loving parents all to myself. Surprised? I really wish you wouldn't be. My Mother and Father cared for me very much and offered me nothing short of the world. I did well in school and participated in a few extra-curricular activities, mostly drama club. At night we ate dinner at the table discussing our days and sharing jokes. If I had to offer proof that the all-American dream existed, we were it.
I don't want to go into details, even after all these years I can't think about it. I don't want to. But to put it quite simply I lost everything in a fire. Everything. I don't know how I managed to get out and they didn't, but part of me always wishes I had just stayed in bed.
Since I was only a teenager they wanted to toss me into the system with a foster family. I didn't want that for myself. The system was for kids who were abused. Maybe their parents were druggies or simply didn't want them. One way or another they couldn't handle the responsibility. I didn't want to be lost amongst those kids. I was better than that. So I ran away and never looked back. I was intelligent. Self sufficient. I figured I would make my own life.
I didn't do so well.
Luckily, over time I stumbled across Tonio and his family. It took some work, some sweet talk, and some spine, but somehow I found my way into his family. I couldn't do the things he expected of the others, it wasn't in me, but I made myself useful in other ways. Over time I became his consigliere of sorts. His right-hand girl. What I lacked in muscle I made up in tactics and I was able to garner our little army a parachute of associates. I helped bring a system to the chaos and it wasn't easy, but I did it and no one could deny that. Life was good.
I've never had a sibling, but if I did I have think it would feel very similar to when Zoe came into our lives. You think nothing of it. There's even a bit of excitement. You want to teach them what you know. Share the world with them. Then, when they actually arrive and get settled in you realize what a horrible idea it was. You are suddenly forced to share the attention you were so used to enjoying on your own and it takes every fiber of your being to not forcibly take it back.
I honestly thought nothing of her that night when I brought her home, at most she would become an adequate soldier. She had a mouth on her but I figured Tonio would straighten that out quickly. For some insufferable reason he liked it. It made him laugh. Sure, he would press his thumb over her enough to keep her in line, but overall he allowed her enough freedom for her to retain that fire. No one else paid much attention to what happened between Zoe and Tonio, but I had seen it coming after only a few weeks. There was nothing I could do, like being caught in the path of a semi. When it became public amongst the family that they were dating everyone was surprised and pleased. Everyone except me.
I wasn't surprised and I was far from pleased.
I don't want to go into details, even after all these years I can't think about it. I don't want to. But to put it quite simply I lost everything in a fire. Everything. I don't know how I managed to get out and they didn't, but part of me always wishes I had just stayed in bed.
Since I was only a teenager they wanted to toss me into the system with a foster family. I didn't want that for myself. The system was for kids who were abused. Maybe their parents were druggies or simply didn't want them. One way or another they couldn't handle the responsibility. I didn't want to be lost amongst those kids. I was better than that. So I ran away and never looked back. I was intelligent. Self sufficient. I figured I would make my own life.
I didn't do so well.
Luckily, over time I stumbled across Tonio and his family. It took some work, some sweet talk, and some spine, but somehow I found my way into his family. I couldn't do the things he expected of the others, it wasn't in me, but I made myself useful in other ways. Over time I became his consigliere of sorts. His right-hand girl. What I lacked in muscle I made up in tactics and I was able to garner our little army a parachute of associates. I helped bring a system to the chaos and it wasn't easy, but I did it and no one could deny that. Life was good.
I've never had a sibling, but if I did I have think it would feel very similar to when Zoe came into our lives. You think nothing of it. There's even a bit of excitement. You want to teach them what you know. Share the world with them. Then, when they actually arrive and get settled in you realize what a horrible idea it was. You are suddenly forced to share the attention you were so used to enjoying on your own and it takes every fiber of your being to not forcibly take it back.
I honestly thought nothing of her that night when I brought her home, at most she would become an adequate soldier. She had a mouth on her but I figured Tonio would straighten that out quickly. For some insufferable reason he liked it. It made him laugh. Sure, he would press his thumb over her enough to keep her in line, but overall he allowed her enough freedom for her to retain that fire. No one else paid much attention to what happened between Zoe and Tonio, but I had seen it coming after only a few weeks. There was nothing I could do, like being caught in the path of a semi. When it became public amongst the family that they were dating everyone was surprised and pleased. Everyone except me.
I wasn't surprised and I was far from pleased.