It’s kind of mind-boggling, thinking about everything that’s happened over the past few days. And I’m not even talking about living on the streets and getting hit by a car. In just one day, I learned my friends are vicious and fake, my boyfriend is a jerk, my mother’s an alcoholic, and the family is about to go bankrupt. A lot for a person to take in all at once, but it’s not like I can set any of it aside to think about later. This is my life, for better or worse. Now that I’ve learned the bad things, though, I have a chance to fix what I can. Life seems determined to beat me back, but I vow to stay strong. For my family. And for myself. After showering and finding an outfit I’m not completely embarrassed in, I head downstairs. The dining room is quiet, so I head into the kitchen. Beatriz is already there, cleaning and humming to herself. “Good morning, Beatriz. Where is everyone?” I ask. “Your father took your mother to the rehab center this morning.”
