• I don't know you. You weren't there for me as I grew up. So why now? Why do you show up now? You "tried" once when I was ten, but you gave up. Now you show up as I leave high school. You hog up most of my time when I just want to see the friends I will part ways with soon. I was in a wreck on the way here. Mom made sure the car did not flip. My nerves are on edge. I'm in no mood to deal with you.

    You hug me for a long time. Do I have to hug you back? Am I to act like I have known you all my life? I know what kind of life I would have had with you. I don't like you. I don't care if you are in my life. Why should I? You hurt Mom and did not try to be in my life. You can do what you want. I don't care. I won't go out of my way to know you. You chose not to try. Why should I?

    I'm glad to be freed from your grasp. I felt like I could not breathe. When I flee from you, you look like a kicked dog. Can you blame me? The one time I stayed with you, I cried and called Mom to beg to go home. I spent most of that spring break down the stairs in the dark on my own with games to take my mind off of what you did. I did not want to see you. You made me feel like s**t. I was ten and felt like I had no worth. Your mean words did not help. You did not once check on me to see what was wrong.

    You ask me to go see you at your home one of these days. I don't want to. It's not like things will change if I do. It's not like you changed. I know you will run like last time. I want it like that. You say you love me, but you don't want to pay Mom like the court told you to. It's for my own good, but you don't seem to care. You still owe us a lot. All you do is make me mad.

    I'm fine as I am. Mom did a good job on her own. We don't need you. You are my dad by blood, but that is it. You have no place in my life. So leave me be.