• Chapter 6: Explanations
    Kauri had tried her best to cover the bruises by wearing long-sleeved shirts, pants, and she used a lot of face makeup. Of course, people still noticed her eye being swollen shut. When people asked, she just said, “It’s a long story we really don’t have time to get into.”
    When they went to the gym during band, Kauri sat next to Cameron for the second time that week. She was in too much pain to move somewhere else to talk to him.
    “Cameron, I want you to swear to me you won’t tell anyone what I’m about to tell you, ok?”
    “Ok, I swear. What is it?”
    “You’re the only person I am telling this, so if you tell anyone, I’ll find out. My eye is swollen because… my dad punched me. It’s a lot worse than it looks because I’m wearing makeup over it, and that’s why my arms and legs are covered.”
    Cameron looked at her in complete shock. “Why?”
    “Well, my mom found out I’m pregnant, called me a slut, wouldn’t let me explain that I was raped, then told me to go to my room. Then they started fighting, and I have no idea why. Then my dad left, got drunk, came home, and beat me.”
    “Who’s they?” Cameron pondered over the story told to him.
    “My parents. I thought a long time over the possibilities of why they were fighting, and I can’t think of any,” Kauri panicked.
    “Kauri, you need to call child services.”
    “But I love my dad. I have no idea how much longer this will last, but hopefully not much. I don’t want him in trouble for getting drunk once.”

    Chapter 7: Alone
    That night, her dad came home drunk and did the same thing. On Friday, she told everyone the same thing, except for Cameron, who didn’t need any explanation. He was on the verge of calling child services himself.
    She went home Friday and began getting ready to march at the first football game of the season. She laid the clothes out so that she didn’t have to wear the bulky uniform around the house. Her dad came home pretty soon, drunk once again. He began shouting at her, which was unusual, and then he began hitting her once again. Once he was done, he yelled at her that she was no longer welcome in that house, and she would have to find some other place to live.
    She grabbed clothes to be ready in all weather, a water bottle, and some Pringles. They took little space and lasted a long time. She also grabbed some dried fruit. She took a tent, a lantern, some cooking supplies, a sleeping bag and a pillow. She grabbed a brush, a toothbrush, toothpaste, makeup, and a mirror. She also grabbed different jackets for different weather, and a cell phone and charger, incase she ever went to someone’s house, she would be able to charge it. She thought a moment about what she was forgetting. Once she remembered, she grabbed her teddy bear and tied him to the outside of her bag. Once all this was packed, she grabbed her and uniform and left. She walked 7 miles to the school and was there before anyone else. She put all her stuff in her locker and continued to the bathrooms to change.
    As she changed her top, she looked down at her torso. She wasn’t showing yet, which meant she didn’t have to tell anyone. She paused, thinking about the life growing inside her. If she screwed up once, it could easily die, and it would be her fault. She sat onto the toilet, totally forgetting why she was in the stall. She placed her hand on the developing fetus. “I’ll try my best, little one,” she whispered softly. “I’ll help you if you help me. We’ll do this together. You might not need to help me for a long time, but until then, I swear my life to protecting you.” She began thinking how amazing it was that someone was inside of her. She snapped out of it when someone opened the door. She continued getting dressed and walked out of the stall to find Carrie standing right in front of her.
    “I want you to explain to me what’s going on. There’s something wrong, and I can tell. I want to know what it is, and I want to know now,” she forcefully demanded.
    “What makes you think something’s wrong?”
    “Your eye is swollen, and you have more bruises today than yesterday.”
    “Ok, you got me. My dad’s been drinking and when he’s drunk, he hits me. Happy?” she asked sarcastically.
    “Why did you tell me this before?”
    “I didn’t want you to worry. Sometimes, you overreact to things that happen to people you care about.”
    “I know, but it worries me more that you weren’t telling me anything.” Carrie hugged Kauri.
    “I got to get my stuff ready, sorry,” Kauri said, trying to get out before she felt guilty for not telling her that she’s pregnant.
    She grabbed her stuff, got on the bus, and sat next to Hanna. Hanna talked the whole time, which kept Kauri’s mind off the stuff that was happening. She hadn’t told anyone that she wasn’t welcome in her own home, and she didn’t intend on anyone ever finding out.