I walked in my mom's hospital room and looked at her mangled body. She was connected toll kinds of wires and tubes. Her usually bright eyes were starting to dim.

"Mom, how are you feeling?" I asked softly.

"McKenzie, come here. I know my time is coming, so I'm going to tell you the truth. I lied when I told you that your father was dead."

"I know, Bryce told me."

"Did he tell you who he was?"

"No, just that he was a dead beat who'd never want me." I sighed.

"When did you find out?"

"About three weeks after the wedding."

"You were seven years old then! How could you say that to a seven year old?"

"And I'm fourteen now mom." I said, trying to calm her down.

"Yes, you are fourteen years old. Butterfly, listen to me. Do you know why Bryce doesn't like when you watch wrestling?"

"Because he hates John Cena and thinks he's nothing but a lame dead beat…" suddenly, something clicked.

"Mom, are you saying that…"

"Yes sweetie, he's your father, and I want you to go live with him once I die. I don't trust Bryce, even if he is my husband. When you reach him, give him this package." She said, handing me a box about the size of a shoebox.

"Mom…I don't know anything about him, other than stuff that a WWE fan would know."

"Mackie, listen to me. He didn't know about you because he moved to West Newberry and I didn't know I was pregnant until after he left. I was 14, and I didn't know what to do." She said, starting to cry. "He was 15 at the time, and how was he supposed to help me take care of a baby half-way across the country?"

"Mom, calm down. I'll go with my dad, if you're sure that's what you want."

"It is, I know you don't know him, but you're just like him in so many ways, you just don't know. I've contacted Vince McMahon, who gave me John's current address and telephone number, it's written on the box…" she started to cough really hard. I cried as I watched the heart monitor creep to a long steady flat line. My mother was dead. I slowly walked out of the room and to my step-father who was waiting for me. He looked down at me impatiently.

"She's gone," was all I said. He nodded and we walked to the car. I looked in the back seat at the harness that was connected to the backseat seatbelts. It belonged to my little half-brother Johnny. He'd died three days before. He'd been 9 years old.

"You miss them, don't you?"

"More than anything."

"Well, looks like it's just you and me kid, just you and me." I looked up at him and smirked. He didn't know yet, and I was glad to tell him.

"I'm guessing my mom didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"She found where my real dad is, and I'm going to live with him." I said, looking up at him.

"So, she found where he was? Good, I wasn't gonna keep your little ass anyway." He said, smacking me in the head. I winced and looked out of the window.

We pulled into our house about ten minutes later. I got out of the car and started walking around. I ended up at this park mom used to take me and Johnny to all the time. I sat at the base of my favorite tree. I looked up and noticed the engraving on the tree; 'JC & Bella'. I sat there until dark, thinking. I knew Bryce wouldn't keep me. I was sick of him beating my head in every ten minutes. I knew it'd only get worse if I stayed…I made my decision; I was running.

I ran home and I went straight up into my room. I slid under my bed and came back out with my stash of birthday money, money from each of my birthdays since I was 4. It was my life's savings, and I had over $800. I folded the money and put it in my jeans pocket. Then I grabbed my duffel bag and stuffed it with clothes and shoes along with the package mom told me to give to dad. I stuck in a picture of my family; me mom and Johnny in there too. I also grabbed my Diary from under the mattress and a couple of books. Then I went to my computer. I pulled up my Email and sent one to all of my friends saying that my mom had died and I was going to live with my dad. I also went to the Greyhound website to look for a bus going to West Newberry, Massachusetts from Edmonton, Illinois. I found one leaving at 6:30 the next morning, so I booked a ticket. Then I went down to the kitchen, being sure not to wake Bryce; there'd be "hell to pay" if I did. I looked through the refrigerator and made six sandwiches: three PB&J, and three Ham & Cheese. I looked at the clock above the sink: 9:30 pm. I went back to my room with my sandwiches and went to sleep, setting my alarm clock for 5:00.

Beep, Beep, Beep…

I hit the alarm so that it wouldn't wake up Bryce. I slipped on some clothes and grabbed my bag, slinging it over my shoulder. I crept down the stairs and down into the kitchen. I opened the door that connected to the garage and I was almost home free.

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP,

I'd forgotten about the security alarm. I ran into the garage and jumped on the motor scooter my mom had gotten me for my birthday. I rode down the street, ignoring Bryce as he screamed for me to come back. I turned the corner and rode for about ten more minutes. I started to tear as I passed the hospital where my mother died hours before. I turned another corner and watched as Downtown came into view. I watched the city pass me and turned into the bus station parking lot. I walked over to the dumpster and threw my scooter in there. Then I took a deep breath and adjusted the bag on my shoulder. I walked into the bus station and over to the desk.

"Can I help you?"

"Um yes, my mother booked me a ticket last night. My names McKenzie Winters." I said, smiling at the man behind the counter. He typed on the computer for a couple of seconds and turned back to me.

"One way ticket to West Newberry, Massachusetts?" I nodded. "That comes to $68.49 miss." I went in my pocket and pulled out seventy dollars. I paid him and he gave me the ticket along with my change. I went to the platform waited for them to call my route. I climbed on the bus along with my duffel bag and sat down next to the window.

I watched as the bus pulled off and my town quickly pulled behind me. I was nervous and I was afraid of what was going to happen to me. I slipped my headphones on and let Fantasia put me to sleep.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­

When I woke up, it was 10 am, and we were taking a break at a rest stop in Columbus, Ohio. I got up and walked back to the bathroom. I went and came back. I went in my bag and ate the PB&J sandwiches. Then I took out my Diary.

Well, mom finally died after suffering for three weeks. Johnny died three days ago. They both suffered for so long. I kind of wish they'd died instantly when the truck hit them. In other news, you're gonna love this one, mom finally told me that dad was alive. I hated that Bryce made me call him dad. I think it was because he knew who my dad was and to spite me. I think that Bryce knew dad when they were growing up or something, I could be wrong, it wouldn't be the first time.

Anyway, mom wants me to live with dad now. She gave me his address and telephone number before she died…right before she died. I'm on the bus right now on my way to his house. I wonder if I should call first or go right there. I mean, I don't know my way there, and the driver said it was only a 10 minute break before they left West Newberry for Boston…I don't know, I think I'll just show up. I mean, the worst thing he could do is send me away, and I wouldn't really care, I mean I don't know him, and he doesn't know me…won't be any love lost. I'm lying right now. I want him to like me. I mean, it's not like I have a choice, I ran away from Bryce's house, and there's no way I'm going back there. Grandma and Paps are in a nursing home, so they can't keep me. I'd end up in some orphanage! I have to make dad like me. I'm scared. I'm 14 years old for goodness sake. I don't know what to do. I just have to wait and see…

McEmily W

I closed my diary and put my head phones back on. I turned the CD to the last song and started to sing along. I guess I was singing pretty loud because the lady across the aisle from me started to clap. I turned bright red and changed the CD to Beyonce. I lay back and relaxed, and eventually fell back asleep.

When I woke up the second time, we were outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and it was almost 4 pm. I looked around and stretched. The lady across from me was gone and replaced by a man who looked a lot like Terrell Owens. I smirked and pulled out another CD, Eminem. It was the Eminem Show, my favorite one. I put it on and took out one of my favorite books: The Babysitter's Club #127, Jessie's Wish. I finished it in almost an hour and a half, by which time we were nearing New Jersey.

I looked at the Winnie the Pooh watch my mom had as a girl and gave to me when I was 10 and saw that it was about 5:30. I wasn't tired, but I tried to sleep again. I was restless and I couldn't sit still for long periods of time. I sat and tried to think about what would happen when I met dad for the first time.

"Will he like me? Will he be like he is on TV? Will he be mean like Bryce was? Will he even WANT me?" I thought out loud. I sighed and eventually pulled out another Babysitter's Club book and read it while eating my ham and cheese sandwiches. When I looked out side, it was starting to get dark. I shivered with anticipation. It was 7:30 pm, I was almost there. The bus pulled into the parking lot and the driver called out.

"West Newberry, Massachusetts!" I stood up and slung my bag over my shoulder. I got off of the bus and I walked into the bus station. I grabbed a map and looked for my dad's street. It was in an area called Echo Park. I looked at the bus schedules, and seen a bus that went through Echo Park. I grabbed one and read it and I saw that one was coming in twenty minutes.

I sat at the bus stop and looked over the schedule. I had to get off at Jaycee Street and walk three blocks over to Highland Street to reach my dad's house. I got on the bus and paid the $1.25 fare. It was a fifteen minute ride, and when I got off the bus, it was completely dark outside. I walked through the neighborhood and stopped in front of the house. I looked at it. It was a two story house, and it looked like there was a pool out back. The wind blew and I shivered. I set my bag down and went through it. I grabbed a hoodie out of it and slipped into it, pulling the hood over my head. Then, picking my bag back up, I walked up the walk and stood on the porch. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door.