Sydney Carolina Wright, chapter 1
(February 13, 1987 in the Wright home)
"Tre how can you do this?" his mother shouted while shaking him.
"Mom... please."
"Your only fifteen years old Tre. Fifteen!"
"Mom... please," he said while holding back tears
"Two months Tre. Two fucking months."
He stared at her wide eyed. Two months? He didn't know its been that long. He thought Jena just found out. Why would Jena keep that from him?
"T-t-two months?"
"Don't play stupid with me mister. Its been two months. How the fuck can you keep that from me and your father Tre?"
"Mom I didn't know... "
"Bull shit you didn't know! You keep it from me and then lie about it?"
He just stared at her. Tears streaming down his face. What was he suppose to do? He was frozen where he stood.
"What are you going to tell your father? How are you going to explain this to him?"
"I-I don't know."
He dropped to his knees and placed is head in his hands. He sat there and sobbed.
"I-I didn't know its been two months," he managed to say between sobs. "I thought Jena just found out."
He looked up to his mom. She too was crying.
"How can you not know Tre? How can you not know?"
Then the front door opened. His father was home from work. He had no clue what to tell him.
(Tre's POV)
What am I going to tell him.
I stayed where I was. Still crying. My father walked into the house and looked at me and my mom.
"What's going on here?" my father questioned in a deep strong voice while eyeing my mom and me.
"Tell him."
"But... mom I cant."
"Tell him god damn it!" she said as she hit me in the back of the head. I stood, hung my head, and made my way to my dad who was still standing at the front door. As I neared him I looked up and looked him in the eye.
"D-d-dad?"
He just looked at me.
"I-I got J-Jena pregnant," I said, my eyes full of tears once again. He just looked at me. No he stared at me.
"Y-You got Jena pregnant?"
I nodded my head yes.
"How long Tre... "
I just looked at him.
"How long?!"
"T-Two months."
Crack. The next thing I know, I was on the ground next to the couch. My face burning from his hit. I stood up and waited for another but there was nothing.
"Fifteen Tre. Your fifteen. How the fuck are you going to raise a child. You don't have a job. You have no money. How the fuck are you going to manage with a kid. If you think that stupid band of yours is going to support you your fucking crazy!" Then he stopped and looked at me. I was crying uncontrollably. Then he walked away. I feel to my knees and just stayed there staring at the floor. Then I heard my mom and dad talking. I listened in.
"Frank settle down."
"Settle down? Settle down? Our son got his girlfriend pregnant and you're telling me to settle down?! Fifteen. They are only fifteen. How are they going to raise a child?"
"Jena's mom called me. She told me that they were going to have the nurse take the baby right after birth. Neither of them are going to be able to see it."
There going to take the baby away? I thought for sure Jena's mom was going to have us keep it to teach us a lesson. I ran up the stairs to call Jena.
"Hello?" it was her mom I could tell by the distress in her voice.
"May I please speak to Jena?"
"And who is calling my I ask?"
"Its Tre."
There was silence on the line.
"You little bastard you got my daughter pregnant. She's fifteen years old. How can you ruin her... " There was some struggling on the other line
"Mom give me the phone... " There was some more struggling.
"H-Hello?"
"Jena. Baby I didn't mean... "
"Tre they're going to take the baby away. They're going to take our baby! We're never going to see our baby."
"I know. I over heard my parents talking. I don't want them to take our baby."
"Give me that god damn phone..."
"Mom no... "
There was some struggle on the line.
"Leave my daughter alone. After that damned baby is born your not going to see her again."
The line went dead. I threw the phone against the wall, collapsed on my bed and cried into my pillow.
(August 4th 1987 in the Oakland hospitla)
"Push Jena. Your almost there!"
"Ahhhhh... ."
"Come on hunny. Remember the breathing."
"Ahhhh... .I want Tre. Please, just let my boyfriend in"
"Push Jena push!"
(Tre's POV)
Mike, Billie, and I sat outside the room. The nurse's wouldn't let me in to be with Jena. They said they had strike orders not to let me in. I just wanted to see her one last time before her mother tares us away from each other.
"Tre settle down man."
"Billie how can I settle down when I'm never going to see my baby? How can I settle down when I'm never going to see my girlfriend again?" I began to cry. "Ahhh... this fucking sucks!"
"Man I now how you feel."
"No you don't Billie. You have no idea how I feel. You have no fucking clue."
He looked at me as if he did know how I felt. Like he knew how it felt to lose your child.
"I lost my father when I was ten. I think I know how you feel. Yeah it might not be the same as loosing your child at fifteen but I still know how you feel."
I just looked at him. My eyes were full of tears.
"Aww... come here man. Give me a hug." he to was crying. I think Mike was crying too but I had other things on my mind.
(In the room)
"Come on Jena. Your almost there. One more push!"
"Ahhh... ."
The sound of a crying baby filled the room
(Jena's POV)
"Let me see my baby. Please, let me see my little girl!" I said while crying. They were gone before they heard me.
"No. Sydney."
(Tre's POV)
I heard the door to the room open. The doctor hurried out with Sydney in his arms. He was hiding her form me so I wouldn't see her.
"My baby. Let me see my baby!"
Mike and Billie had to hold me back from running after him.
"No. Please, just let me see my little girl. Sydney!"
The door opened again. This time it was the nurses with Jena. They rolled her away. Again, not letting me see her either.
"Tre. They took our baby. They took her away. We're never going to see our baby!" she yelled down the hallway as they rolled her away with tears streaming down her face.
"No," I said under my breath. I dropped to my knees and just stared down the hall. Billie and Mike were still holding on to me. I just lost the two loves that were in my life, all in one day. My girlfriend and my baby, Sydney Carolina Wright.
(One hour later still in the hospital)
(Still Tre's POV)
I wondered down the corridors of the hospital to find were they kept the newborn baby's that were going up for adoption. Finally I found it. I pressed my head against the glass and peered in. I looked around to find Sydney. Then I found her. She was the only baby in a purple one piece. I picked out the suit just for this purpose. I looked at her and she stared back at me. I began to cry as I lifted my hand to wave to her.
"Hey there Sydney," I whispered to myself. I guess the nurse in there must of saw me so she picked up Sydney and brought her to me.
"Sir, I know I'm not allowed to let you see Sydney, but I know how you feel. I lost my first child when I was thirteen. My parents made me put him up for adoption and I never saw him again. So you can hold her until her adoption parents come to get her."
"Thank you ma'am."
She stepped aside and stood next to me.
"Hey there Sydney. I'm your daddy," I said as a tear streamed down my cheek. She looked at me with her sleepy blue eyes. Then she raised her hand and hit me lightly in the chin. I couldn't help but to chuckle a little.
"You are so beautiful. You look just like your mother." Just the thought of Jena made me cry. "You have my eyes. Those beautiful blue eyes." I kissed her on the cheek and then I felt a warm hand on my shoulder.
"Mr. Wright her adoption parents are here." She pointed to a tall man dressed in a bland suite. He was standing next to a short lady in a skirt and a pink Pollo shirt. They both looked like they were about twenty years old. The man extended his hand for me to shake.
"My name is Brian Stevens, and this is my wife Darla." I reached out with a shaky hand to shake his while holding Sydney in the other.
"My name's Frank Wright but you can call me Tre," I said in a soft voice.
"Well Tre," Mrs. Stevens said, "We will take good care of Sydney for you. If you want we'll send you pictures of her. I know I'm not allowed to do that but I want you to watch your little girl grow up."
"Thank you ma'am. I would appreciate that." I didn't look either of them in the eye. I was to depressed and too exhausted. I just looked at their feet.
"Mr. Wright. I'll make sure nothing ever happens to her. She will be safe with me and my wife." He gave me a smile but I didn't respond. This man better live up to that. If I find out anything happens to my little girl in his care over the next eighteen years he's dead. Again I felt that warm hand on my shoulder.
"Tre you have to give them Sydney now so they can catch their flight."
"Your flight? You mean you guys don't live in California?" Mrs. Stevens shook her head no.
"We live in Connecticut. We were only here for vacation," Mr. Stevens responded. Then Mrs. Stevens held out her hands to grab Sydney. I didn't want to give her up. I pulled her close to me and looked at her one last time and kissed her on the forehead.
"Bye Sydney," I whispered to her. "Don't forget me." Then the tears came on. She took Sydney and they walked away. About half way down the corridor I heard Sydney crying as she was saying, "Don't let them take me. I want my daddy." I dropped to my knees and cried my heart out. The nurse rubbed my back as I sobbed.
"No... my baby."
(Thirteen years later in the Stevens home in Hartford, Connecticut. March 2nd, 2000)
(Sydney's POV)
"Where's my dinner bitch?" I heard my dad yell to my mom.
"You fucking bastard. How many times do I have to tell you not to call me a bitch!" I heard my mom yell back.
"Bitch get over here. You never talk to me like that." There was a clunk. My dad hit my mom, yet again, and she fell to the ground. It's like this every night at my house. My parents get drunk, well they're always drunk, they fight, then my dad takes it out on me. I just sit in my room hoping it wont go any further. I couldn't wait till I was eighteen. I can get out of here and find my real parents.
Oh have I mentioned I'm adopted. Yeah I found that out on my twelfth birthday when my mom was sending pictures to some address in California. Nice right?
"Sydney get your ass down here! Now," I heard my dad yell. I wasn't in the mood for any of his stupid drunken games so I just sat on my bed and stared at the Green Day poster that was on my ceiling.
"Sydney!" I still didn't budge. Then I heard him stumble his way up the stairs.
"Sydney! Sydney! Get your scrawny ass over here. How many times do I have to tell you to answer me when I call you?" Just to be a smart ass I answered him when he reached the top step.
"Yes father?"
"You stupid bitch. Get your ass over here." Holy shit tonight was going to be like any other night. I climbed over the bed but he caught my leg and dragged me close to him.
"You stupid bitch you never ignore me." He pulled off his belt and started whipping me with it. At least this isn't as bad as the shit he usually does.
"Brian, stop. Brian!" I heard my mom stumble up the stairs but before she reached the top my "dad" closed then locked the door. He undid his pants and came toward me. I was in to much pain to move.
"No. Brian not tonight please. Not tonight." He flipped me over onto my back and rapped me. I heard my mom bagging on the door.
"Brian! Open this door. Open it now!" She was crying I could tell by the sound of her voice.
I finally got my strength back and I fought him back.
"Brian. Stop. Get off of me!" I punched him and tried to kick him. He finally got off of me and my mom finally got into the room.
"Brian. Get away from her!" He walked up to my mom and punched her in the face. She went flying into my wall and was knocked out.
"Now for you... " He came close so me. I backed up against the wall behind my bed. I reached behind it and grabbed the bat I had there. I picked it up and hit him with it. He too was knocked out. I wasn't going to stay here any longer. So I packed up my Green Day CD's, all my black clothes, and the weed I had stashed underneath my mattress, and my I pod. I put on my black hoodie and my converses and went through my dads pants to find his credit card. I found it and went out the door.
Two days later DCF found me and put me in a foster home. They told me that my "dad" was in jail and my mom was in rehab and I could contact her on her cell phone. The only thing I had now was my music and my weed. I wasn't gonna let anyone get in my way.
(Two days later at the foster home)
I've been here for two days and I hate it. I've already ran out of weed and with my outside connections I got some more for a cheep price. I was alone. I wanted to go home. I wanted to be with my mom. She was the only one that cared for me. My "dad" on the other hand used me for sex because my mom wouldn't give it to him. The lady that owned the house came into my room.
"Sydney phone for you." I could just barely hear here over the blasting of my music. Have I mentioned Green Day was my favorite band.
"Thanks," I said as I grabbed the phone.
"Hello?"
"Sydney. It's your mother." I wasn't in the mood to talk to her.
"What do you want mom? And why didn't you call my cell?"
"It was off and I wanted to hear your voice again." For me that wasn't a good enough answer. But whatever. It was nice to talk to someone. So we talked about my wonderful two days at the foster home. I was getting sick of talking to her. I had nothing else to say. Then I remembered the question I wanted to ask her.
"Who's my father?"
"What?"
"Who's my real father?"
"Sydney, baby," I cut her off.
"Who the fuck is my father? Tell me now!" There was silence. Then I heard her sigh.
"I can't tell you his name but I can tell you that he lives in California,"
"Well no shit he lives in California mom. I saw you sending pictures to him. Who is he?" There was silence again. "Fine, don't tell me bitch." Then I hung up. I decided I wasn't going to stay here anymore. I packed up my stuff and waited for twelve o' clock to come around.
When twelve came I snuck out of the house and made my way to the bank to get some money. I still had my dads credit card. I was gonna go to California to find my dad. I got five hundred dollars and made my way to the bus stop. The bus took me to the airport and I went to one of the desks.
"Can I get a ticket to California?"
"Are you seventeen or older?" the lady asked me. I nodded my head yes. She believed me. The lady at the foster home thought I was seventeen when I first arrived. I'm really thirteen but if I can pass up seventeen then that's just fine with me.
"Where in California Miss?" she asked me. I didn't know where. Then I remembered the address on the envelope my mom sent to California.
"Oakland," I replied.
"Your flight leaves in twenty minutes."
"Thank you."
I walked away and sat down in one of the chairs. There were very few people at the airport. I didn't pay any attention to them. I wanted to call my mom but then I decided I wasn't going to because I didn't want her calling the lady at the foster home to come and get me. So I just sat there with my hood up and my eyes fixed on the ground. Then someone sat next to me.
"Hey," I heard the voice say.
"Hi," I said in a small voice not even looking at the person.
"Are you okay?" the voice asked me. This time I looked up. It was Tre Cool.
"Yeah I'm okay," then I looked back down to the ground. Right now I didn't care if he was sitting next to me. I didn't care if my favorite band was in the airport. I was fixated on getting to California to find my dad. "What's your name?" he asked me.
"Sydney," I replied in a small voice as I looked at the floor. I could feel him staring at me. Then I heard him walk away.
(Tre's POV)
I ran over to Billie and Mike.
"Mike, Billie. You see that girl over there," and I pointed to her.
"Yeah why?"
"That's Sydney."
"How do you know Tre?" Mike questioned me.
"Go to her and look at her. Then come over here and I'll show you a picture."
"Whatever," then Mike walked over to her and said hi. Then I showed him a picture.
"Oh my god Tre that is her."
"Should I tell her?"
"No not now."
(Sydney's POV)
I heard the three of them talking off into the distance but I didn't listen in like I usually do. I looked back to see that they were coming towards me.
"Hey," I heard Billie Joe say. I looked back down at my shoes and said hi. It was getting hot in this mother fucking airport so I took off my hoodie forgetting about the cuts and bruises I had on my arms from my dad. Tre saw my arm's and just stared.
"What happened to your arms?" he said with a concerned look on his face.
"I box," I said lying. He looked at me like he didn't believe me.
"So where you headed?" Mike asked me.
"California."
"Who's in California?" Billie asked.
"My dad... " I said trailing off. I started shaking. I felt a anxiety attack coming on. I tried to hold it back. This is when I usually smoke a joint but I left my weed at the foster home.
"What's wrong?" I heard one say as he touched my arm. I flinched. I'm always afraid when people touch me because of what my "father" did.
"Nothing. I'm just cold." And I slipped my hoodie back on. I saw Mike and Billie walk off. Tre was still sitting next to me.
"Do you have somewhere to stay when you get to California?"
"Yeah, kinda," he looked at me with concerned eyes. "No." I looked back down at my shoes. I could tell he was concerned about me even though he didn't know me. That felt good. It felt good that someone cared for me even if they didn't know me.
"You can stay with me," I heard him say. I looked up at him. My black hair falling in my face.
"Really? But you don't even know me... " he cut me off.
"Just, please, stay with me. I don't want you wondering around California by yourself. I'll help you find your dad"
"That's kind of you Mr. Cool. I'll love to stay with you."
"Please call me Tre," he gave me the cutest smile in the world. A tear streamed down my cheek. Then he walked away to join the other two. Then I called my mom.
"Hello?" she didn't sound tired at all. As if she was waiting for me to call her back.
"Hey mom it's me."
"Oh Sydney how... " I cut her off.
"Mom I need to tell you something. You have to promise me you won't get mad or tell the lady at the foster home."
"Anything for you hunny."
"I'm at the airport and I'm going to California to find my dad, and I'm sorry of earlier. Your not the one that put me through the pain it was Brian and... "
"I promise I wont call. If she calls me and asks me where you went I wont tell her, and don't let Brian get to you. Don't let your thoughts of him ruin your life any more. When you make it to California call me and I'll tell you who your dad is."
"Thanks mom." I still call Darla mom because even though she was drunk all the time she was still there for me. She still loved me even through all the pain Brian but us, well mostly me, through.
"I love you Sydney." I haven't heard my mom say that in forever.
"I love you to mom." I hung up and began to cry.
(Tre's POV)
I walked over to the guys after talking to Sydney.
"What she say?"
"She said she would love to stay with me."
"Really?"
"No Billie I'm lying."
"When are you going to tell her that you are her father?" Mike asked me as we walked back to Sydney.
"I'll tell her when we get to California." When we reached Sydney she was crying.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." she replied as she looked at me with her beautiful blue eyes. My eyes. I can tell she's the type that kept in her feelings.
"Flight thirteen to Oakland, California is boarding now," I heard the lady on the intercom say.
"Come on lets go." We all boarded the plane.
(Billie's POV)
My seat on the plane was next to Sydney. She wasn't a very talkative person. She just sat there and listened to her I pod. Then I nudged her. She pulled out one of the ear phones and gave me a dirty look.
"Hey, can I see that for a minute?" I asked. She handed it to me and I looked at the song she was listening to. 'Words I might of ate'. Then I went through the rest of the songs. Everything on here was Green Day. From 1039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours to Bullet In A Bible. I can see now she was a Green Day fan.
"You like Green Day I see," I said handing her back the I pod.
"Of course I do Mr. Armstrong. Any one that doesn't like Green Day or doesn't know who Green Day is is missing out on some good shit."
"Please call me Billie Joe or Billie or anything in between."
"Okay then. So I guess I should call Mr. Dirnt over there Mike?"
"Correct. Hey is your hair naturally black like that?" She nodded her head yes.
"Man I wish I had natural black hair."
"Just be glad they invented black hair dye." She gave me one of those looks Tre gives. She is definitely her fathers daughter.
"You have pretty eyes. Does your mother have blue eyes?" I questioned. I felt really stupid because I knew she had Tre's eyes. Yet again she doesn't know Tre's her father.
"No my mom, well Darla, has brown eyes. She tells me that I have my fathers eyes but I wouldn't know that. I've never meet him before, nor my mother. But Darla is a mother to me so I call her mom even though I know she's not my mom. All I know about him is that when he and my mom had to give me up they were heart broken. Especially him. Or at east that's what my mom tells me. She never met my real mom. They took her away after birth and my father was never able to see her again. Anyway, she told me that he was only fifteen when he had to give me up and he was the only one that saw me after birth. The nurse was nice enough to let him see me before Brian and Darla took me."
"That's all you know about him?"
"Yeah. I wish I knew more but my mom wouldn't tell me anymore," she looked down at her shoes as she has been all night.
"I like your shoes."
"Thanks."
"Do you only wear them because we do?'
"No. I wear them because I find them to be really comfortable." She blushed.
"You do wear them because we do!"
"Okay. Yes that's why I wear them." She blushed some more and looked away. I giggled.
(Mike's POV)
The plane landed at the airport in Oakland. Sydney fell asleep so we had to wake her up.
"Sydney. Sydney. Wake up Sydney."
"Come on Sydney wake up." All three of us shook her until she woke.
"What. What happened?" she questioned as she got up and stretched.
"Were in Oakland Ms. Sleepy head."
"Really. Already?"
"Yeah. It was only a fifteen hour flight!"
"Come on lets go."
(Sydney's POV)
I followed Billie, Tre, and Mike off the plane to the baggage claim. We grabbed our bags and walked out of the airport. There were three limos lined up on the street. One for Tre, one for Mike, and the other for Billie. Tre and I said bye to the guys and climbed into the limo.
"So what do you think about California so far?"
"Well since I've been here for like ten minutes I really cant answer that question Tre, but if you get back to me in about an hour I'll tell you."
"Smart ass."
"Thank you."
It was so nice to be away from home. To be away from the hell I was living. This was my new start. My new life. I can start over when I find my real father.
"Shit!"
"What?"
"I have to call my mom."
"Well when your done... " he stopped talking when I put the phone to my ear
"Hello?"
"Hey mom!"
"Hey hunny. How was your flight?"
"It was pretty cool. I've never flown before and my friend who I just meet helped me out."
"Well that's cool."
"Yeah."
"I promised I would tell you who your father is so here it goes. Your father is a man by the name of Frank Wright. You might know him as Tre Cool, the drummer for Green Day." I dropped my phone. My chin dropped to the floor.
"Sydney? Whats wrong?"
I just sat there. I couldn't believe it. One of my idols was my father. Tre Cool. I looked at him wide eyed. I could hear my mom saying my name on the other line. I picked up my phone with shaky hands.
"Sydney you okay?"
"Yeah mom I-I'm fine. But I have to go okay? I'll call you later." then I hung up the phone.
"You look surprised," he said
"Well, I am. I just found out who my father was!" I stared at him and he stared back.
"After all these years I get to see my baby again," and he kept looking at me as he talked, "I thought this day would never come."
"D-dad?"
"Oh Sydney come here and give me a hug." We both were crying. I still couldn't believe that one of my idols was my father. "Oh my god you've gotten so big," he looked me in the eye, "and you have my eyes, and your mothers smile." He wiped the tears from my face. My mom, I mean Darla, was right. I do have his eyes. "I thought I would never see you again."
"I-I cant believe my idol is my father." He looked at me with wet eyes. I didn't know what else to say. I was speechless. I finally meet my father. My real dad. Tre Cool. We hugged again, this time for a long time. When we finally pulled away from each other he kissed me on the forehead. Then we pulled up to a house. It was big but not too big. It had a really nice lawn too. Tre got out of the car. He stood and stretched for a minute then grabbed my hand an led me through the same door.
"Welcome home."
He grabbed mine and his bags and headed for the front door. I followed behind him like a little puppy dog. He opened the door and led me through. We were in the kitchen. It was really nice. It had a lot of counter space. In the middle was a island with pots and pans hanging over it on a rack. Right across from the kitchen was the dining room. It wasn't too big. It was big enough to fit like ten people in it. Then on the right of the kitchen was a living room. A small yet cute living room. He led me through the kitchen then through the living room to the stairs.
"Ill show you to your room now."
We walked up the stairs and took a left and then another left. He opened the door and led me in. He plopped my stuff on the queen size bed and stood and stared at the walls. Then he turned around with tears streaming down his face. I didn't know what to say. I just stood there and looked at him. He did the same. We both were speechless.
(Tre's POV)
"I hope there is enough room for you here." She just looked at me. She too was crying. "Billie, Adie, Jakob, Joey, Mike, Anastasia, and Stella will be over for dinner." She nooded her head and fell to her knee's.
"What's wrong?"
"Its just... never mind."
"No tell me."
"Its just I never had anyone do some much for me in one day," she said as she sobbed.
"What do you mean?"
She just looked at me. Then she looked down to the floor. Then she took off her hoodie.
"You see these cuts and bruises," she said as she sobbed, "There from the fucking bastured I called dad for twelve years. He beat me. He beat me and my fucking mother." I just looked at her in disbelief. "Every nigh my "parents" would get drunk and they would fight. If my "father" lost he would take it out on me. He would whip me with his fucking belt. Sometimes he would handcuff me to my bed and keep me there for one or two days without any food. If he wasn't getting any from my mom that little fucker would rape me." Still I looked at her with disbelief. She stood up and came over to the bed with me, still crying. "My mother tried what she could to keep me safe. To keep him form hurting me. Every time she tried he would take her out. Two nights ago he punched my mom as she stood up for me. I took the bat I had hidden behind my bed and I hit him with it. I was fed up with his stupid drunken shit. That's when I had my chance to leave. So I packed my shit and I left with his fucking credit card. Then fucking DCF found me and brought me to some god forsaken foster home. The only thing I had there was my music and the fucking weed I left there. Then that's when I ran away from there. That's when I met you." I looked at her as tears streamed down my face. She was crying so hard she began to choke on her own saliva.
"That man. That fucking bastured told me before he took you from me that he and Darla would never let anything happen to you. He promised me he would keep you safe. And look at what he's done to you. Look at what he's done to my baby!" I too was crying so hard I began to choke on my own saliva. "I made a promise to myself that day that I would find him and take him down if he ever hurt you when you were in his care." I didn't know what else to say. I felt so sorry for her. I felt as if I should have been there to save her. But I wasn't.
(Sydney's POV)
I had nothing else to say. I spilled my guts and now I was tired. I was tired from crying, tired from running. I just wanted to sleep now.
"D-dad," I said in a nervous voice hopping it would sound good. He looked at me. His eyes glistened. I guess he liked it when I called him dad. "I'm kind of tired from all the commotion. I haven't had a decent amount of sleep in the past five years so is it okay if I take a nap before everyone comes."
"Sure Sydney," he said. He stood up and kissed me on the forehead. "Ill come and wake you up when everyone's here." Then he closed the door and he was gone. I closed my eyes and feel asleep. For once in my life I felt at home, safe and secure.
"Tre how can you do this?" his mother shouted while shaking him.
"Mom... please."
"Your only fifteen years old Tre. Fifteen!"
"Mom... please," he said while holding back tears
"Two months Tre. Two fucking months."
He stared at her wide eyed. Two months? He didn't know its been that long. He thought Jena just found out. Why would Jena keep that from him?
"T-t-two months?"
"Don't play stupid with me mister. Its been two months. How the fuck can you keep that from me and your father Tre?"
"Mom I didn't know... "
"Bull shit you didn't know! You keep it from me and then lie about it?"
He just stared at her. Tears streaming down his face. What was he suppose to do? He was frozen where he stood.
"What are you going to tell your father? How are you going to explain this to him?"
"I-I don't know."
He dropped to his knees and placed is head in his hands. He sat there and sobbed.
"I-I didn't know its been two months," he managed to say between sobs. "I thought Jena just found out."
He looked up to his mom. She too was crying.
"How can you not know Tre? How can you not know?"
Then the front door opened. His father was home from work. He had no clue what to tell him.
(Tre's POV)
What am I going to tell him.
I stayed where I was. Still crying. My father walked into the house and looked at me and my mom.
"What's going on here?" my father questioned in a deep strong voice while eyeing my mom and me.
"Tell him."
"But... mom I cant."
"Tell him god damn it!" she said as she hit me in the back of the head. I stood, hung my head, and made my way to my dad who was still standing at the front door. As I neared him I looked up and looked him in the eye.
"D-d-dad?"
He just looked at me.
"I-I got J-Jena pregnant," I said, my eyes full of tears once again. He just looked at me. No he stared at me.
"Y-You got Jena pregnant?"
I nodded my head yes.
"How long Tre... "
I just looked at him.
"How long?!"
"T-Two months."
Crack. The next thing I know, I was on the ground next to the couch. My face burning from his hit. I stood up and waited for another but there was nothing.
"Fifteen Tre. Your fifteen. How the fuck are you going to raise a child. You don't have a job. You have no money. How the fuck are you going to manage with a kid. If you think that stupid band of yours is going to support you your fucking crazy!" Then he stopped and looked at me. I was crying uncontrollably. Then he walked away. I feel to my knees and just stayed there staring at the floor. Then I heard my mom and dad talking. I listened in.
"Frank settle down."
"Settle down? Settle down? Our son got his girlfriend pregnant and you're telling me to settle down?! Fifteen. They are only fifteen. How are they going to raise a child?"
"Jena's mom called me. She told me that they were going to have the nurse take the baby right after birth. Neither of them are going to be able to see it."
There going to take the baby away? I thought for sure Jena's mom was going to have us keep it to teach us a lesson. I ran up the stairs to call Jena.
"Hello?" it was her mom I could tell by the distress in her voice.
"May I please speak to Jena?"
"And who is calling my I ask?"
"Its Tre."
There was silence on the line.
"You little bastard you got my daughter pregnant. She's fifteen years old. How can you ruin her... " There was some struggling on the other line
"Mom give me the phone... " There was some more struggling.
"H-Hello?"
"Jena. Baby I didn't mean... "
"Tre they're going to take the baby away. They're going to take our baby! We're never going to see our baby."
"I know. I over heard my parents talking. I don't want them to take our baby."
"Give me that god damn phone..."
"Mom no... "
There was some struggle on the line.
"Leave my daughter alone. After that damned baby is born your not going to see her again."
The line went dead. I threw the phone against the wall, collapsed on my bed and cried into my pillow.
(August 4th 1987 in the Oakland hospitla)
"Push Jena. Your almost there!"
"Ahhhhh... ."
"Come on hunny. Remember the breathing."
"Ahhhh... .I want Tre. Please, just let my boyfriend in"
"Push Jena push!"
(Tre's POV)
Mike, Billie, and I sat outside the room. The nurse's wouldn't let me in to be with Jena. They said they had strike orders not to let me in. I just wanted to see her one last time before her mother tares us away from each other.
"Tre settle down man."
"Billie how can I settle down when I'm never going to see my baby? How can I settle down when I'm never going to see my girlfriend again?" I began to cry. "Ahhh... this fucking sucks!"
"Man I now how you feel."
"No you don't Billie. You have no idea how I feel. You have no fucking clue."
He looked at me as if he did know how I felt. Like he knew how it felt to lose your child.
"I lost my father when I was ten. I think I know how you feel. Yeah it might not be the same as loosing your child at fifteen but I still know how you feel."
I just looked at him. My eyes were full of tears.
"Aww... come here man. Give me a hug." he to was crying. I think Mike was crying too but I had other things on my mind.
(In the room)
"Come on Jena. Your almost there. One more push!"
"Ahhh... ."
The sound of a crying baby filled the room
(Jena's POV)
"Let me see my baby. Please, let me see my little girl!" I said while crying. They were gone before they heard me.
"No. Sydney."
(Tre's POV)
I heard the door to the room open. The doctor hurried out with Sydney in his arms. He was hiding her form me so I wouldn't see her.
"My baby. Let me see my baby!"
Mike and Billie had to hold me back from running after him.
"No. Please, just let me see my little girl. Sydney!"
The door opened again. This time it was the nurses with Jena. They rolled her away. Again, not letting me see her either.
"Tre. They took our baby. They took her away. We're never going to see our baby!" she yelled down the hallway as they rolled her away with tears streaming down her face.
"No," I said under my breath. I dropped to my knees and just stared down the hall. Billie and Mike were still holding on to me. I just lost the two loves that were in my life, all in one day. My girlfriend and my baby, Sydney Carolina Wright.
(One hour later still in the hospital)
(Still Tre's POV)
I wondered down the corridors of the hospital to find were they kept the newborn baby's that were going up for adoption. Finally I found it. I pressed my head against the glass and peered in. I looked around to find Sydney. Then I found her. She was the only baby in a purple one piece. I picked out the suit just for this purpose. I looked at her and she stared back at me. I began to cry as I lifted my hand to wave to her.
"Hey there Sydney," I whispered to myself. I guess the nurse in there must of saw me so she picked up Sydney and brought her to me.
"Sir, I know I'm not allowed to let you see Sydney, but I know how you feel. I lost my first child when I was thirteen. My parents made me put him up for adoption and I never saw him again. So you can hold her until her adoption parents come to get her."
"Thank you ma'am."
She stepped aside and stood next to me.
"Hey there Sydney. I'm your daddy," I said as a tear streamed down my cheek. She looked at me with her sleepy blue eyes. Then she raised her hand and hit me lightly in the chin. I couldn't help but to chuckle a little.
"You are so beautiful. You look just like your mother." Just the thought of Jena made me cry. "You have my eyes. Those beautiful blue eyes." I kissed her on the cheek and then I felt a warm hand on my shoulder.
"Mr. Wright her adoption parents are here." She pointed to a tall man dressed in a bland suite. He was standing next to a short lady in a skirt and a pink Pollo shirt. They both looked like they were about twenty years old. The man extended his hand for me to shake.
"My name is Brian Stevens, and this is my wife Darla." I reached out with a shaky hand to shake his while holding Sydney in the other.
"My name's Frank Wright but you can call me Tre," I said in a soft voice.
"Well Tre," Mrs. Stevens said, "We will take good care of Sydney for you. If you want we'll send you pictures of her. I know I'm not allowed to do that but I want you to watch your little girl grow up."
"Thank you ma'am. I would appreciate that." I didn't look either of them in the eye. I was to depressed and too exhausted. I just looked at their feet.
"Mr. Wright. I'll make sure nothing ever happens to her. She will be safe with me and my wife." He gave me a smile but I didn't respond. This man better live up to that. If I find out anything happens to my little girl in his care over the next eighteen years he's dead. Again I felt that warm hand on my shoulder.
"Tre you have to give them Sydney now so they can catch their flight."
"Your flight? You mean you guys don't live in California?" Mrs. Stevens shook her head no.
"We live in Connecticut. We were only here for vacation," Mr. Stevens responded. Then Mrs. Stevens held out her hands to grab Sydney. I didn't want to give her up. I pulled her close to me and looked at her one last time and kissed her on the forehead.
"Bye Sydney," I whispered to her. "Don't forget me." Then the tears came on. She took Sydney and they walked away. About half way down the corridor I heard Sydney crying as she was saying, "Don't let them take me. I want my daddy." I dropped to my knees and cried my heart out. The nurse rubbed my back as I sobbed.
"No... my baby."
(Thirteen years later in the Stevens home in Hartford, Connecticut. March 2nd, 2000)
(Sydney's POV)
"Where's my dinner bitch?" I heard my dad yell to my mom.
"You fucking bastard. How many times do I have to tell you not to call me a bitch!" I heard my mom yell back.
"Bitch get over here. You never talk to me like that." There was a clunk. My dad hit my mom, yet again, and she fell to the ground. It's like this every night at my house. My parents get drunk, well they're always drunk, they fight, then my dad takes it out on me. I just sit in my room hoping it wont go any further. I couldn't wait till I was eighteen. I can get out of here and find my real parents.
Oh have I mentioned I'm adopted. Yeah I found that out on my twelfth birthday when my mom was sending pictures to some address in California. Nice right?
"Sydney get your ass down here! Now," I heard my dad yell. I wasn't in the mood for any of his stupid drunken games so I just sat on my bed and stared at the Green Day poster that was on my ceiling.
"Sydney!" I still didn't budge. Then I heard him stumble his way up the stairs.
"Sydney! Sydney! Get your scrawny ass over here. How many times do I have to tell you to answer me when I call you?" Just to be a smart ass I answered him when he reached the top step.
"Yes father?"
"You stupid bitch. Get your ass over here." Holy shit tonight was going to be like any other night. I climbed over the bed but he caught my leg and dragged me close to him.
"You stupid bitch you never ignore me." He pulled off his belt and started whipping me with it. At least this isn't as bad as the shit he usually does.
"Brian, stop. Brian!" I heard my mom stumble up the stairs but before she reached the top my "dad" closed then locked the door. He undid his pants and came toward me. I was in to much pain to move.
"No. Brian not tonight please. Not tonight." He flipped me over onto my back and rapped me. I heard my mom bagging on the door.
"Brian! Open this door. Open it now!" She was crying I could tell by the sound of her voice.
I finally got my strength back and I fought him back.
"Brian. Stop. Get off of me!" I punched him and tried to kick him. He finally got off of me and my mom finally got into the room.
"Brian. Get away from her!" He walked up to my mom and punched her in the face. She went flying into my wall and was knocked out.
"Now for you... " He came close so me. I backed up against the wall behind my bed. I reached behind it and grabbed the bat I had there. I picked it up and hit him with it. He too was knocked out. I wasn't going to stay here any longer. So I packed up my Green Day CD's, all my black clothes, and the weed I had stashed underneath my mattress, and my I pod. I put on my black hoodie and my converses and went through my dads pants to find his credit card. I found it and went out the door.
Two days later DCF found me and put me in a foster home. They told me that my "dad" was in jail and my mom was in rehab and I could contact her on her cell phone. The only thing I had now was my music and my weed. I wasn't gonna let anyone get in my way.
(Two days later at the foster home)
I've been here for two days and I hate it. I've already ran out of weed and with my outside connections I got some more for a cheep price. I was alone. I wanted to go home. I wanted to be with my mom. She was the only one that cared for me. My "dad" on the other hand used me for sex because my mom wouldn't give it to him. The lady that owned the house came into my room.
"Sydney phone for you." I could just barely hear here over the blasting of my music. Have I mentioned Green Day was my favorite band.
"Thanks," I said as I grabbed the phone.
"Hello?"
"Sydney. It's your mother." I wasn't in the mood to talk to her.
"What do you want mom? And why didn't you call my cell?"
"It was off and I wanted to hear your voice again." For me that wasn't a good enough answer. But whatever. It was nice to talk to someone. So we talked about my wonderful two days at the foster home. I was getting sick of talking to her. I had nothing else to say. Then I remembered the question I wanted to ask her.
"Who's my father?"
"What?"
"Who's my real father?"
"Sydney, baby," I cut her off.
"Who the fuck is my father? Tell me now!" There was silence. Then I heard her sigh.
"I can't tell you his name but I can tell you that he lives in California,"
"Well no shit he lives in California mom. I saw you sending pictures to him. Who is he?" There was silence again. "Fine, don't tell me bitch." Then I hung up. I decided I wasn't going to stay here anymore. I packed up my stuff and waited for twelve o' clock to come around.
When twelve came I snuck out of the house and made my way to the bank to get some money. I still had my dads credit card. I was gonna go to California to find my dad. I got five hundred dollars and made my way to the bus stop. The bus took me to the airport and I went to one of the desks.
"Can I get a ticket to California?"
"Are you seventeen or older?" the lady asked me. I nodded my head yes. She believed me. The lady at the foster home thought I was seventeen when I first arrived. I'm really thirteen but if I can pass up seventeen then that's just fine with me.
"Where in California Miss?" she asked me. I didn't know where. Then I remembered the address on the envelope my mom sent to California.
"Oakland," I replied.
"Your flight leaves in twenty minutes."
"Thank you."
I walked away and sat down in one of the chairs. There were very few people at the airport. I didn't pay any attention to them. I wanted to call my mom but then I decided I wasn't going to because I didn't want her calling the lady at the foster home to come and get me. So I just sat there with my hood up and my eyes fixed on the ground. Then someone sat next to me.
"Hey," I heard the voice say.
"Hi," I said in a small voice not even looking at the person.
"Are you okay?" the voice asked me. This time I looked up. It was Tre Cool.
"Yeah I'm okay," then I looked back down to the ground. Right now I didn't care if he was sitting next to me. I didn't care if my favorite band was in the airport. I was fixated on getting to California to find my dad. "What's your name?" he asked me.
"Sydney," I replied in a small voice as I looked at the floor. I could feel him staring at me. Then I heard him walk away.
(Tre's POV)
I ran over to Billie and Mike.
"Mike, Billie. You see that girl over there," and I pointed to her.
"Yeah why?"
"That's Sydney."
"How do you know Tre?" Mike questioned me.
"Go to her and look at her. Then come over here and I'll show you a picture."
"Whatever," then Mike walked over to her and said hi. Then I showed him a picture.
"Oh my god Tre that is her."
"Should I tell her?"
"No not now."
(Sydney's POV)
I heard the three of them talking off into the distance but I didn't listen in like I usually do. I looked back to see that they were coming towards me.
"Hey," I heard Billie Joe say. I looked back down at my shoes and said hi. It was getting hot in this mother fucking airport so I took off my hoodie forgetting about the cuts and bruises I had on my arms from my dad. Tre saw my arm's and just stared.
"What happened to your arms?" he said with a concerned look on his face.
"I box," I said lying. He looked at me like he didn't believe me.
"So where you headed?" Mike asked me.
"California."
"Who's in California?" Billie asked.
"My dad... " I said trailing off. I started shaking. I felt a anxiety attack coming on. I tried to hold it back. This is when I usually smoke a joint but I left my weed at the foster home.
"What's wrong?" I heard one say as he touched my arm. I flinched. I'm always afraid when people touch me because of what my "father" did.
"Nothing. I'm just cold." And I slipped my hoodie back on. I saw Mike and Billie walk off. Tre was still sitting next to me.
"Do you have somewhere to stay when you get to California?"
"Yeah, kinda," he looked at me with concerned eyes. "No." I looked back down at my shoes. I could tell he was concerned about me even though he didn't know me. That felt good. It felt good that someone cared for me even if they didn't know me.
"You can stay with me," I heard him say. I looked up at him. My black hair falling in my face.
"Really? But you don't even know me... " he cut me off.
"Just, please, stay with me. I don't want you wondering around California by yourself. I'll help you find your dad"
"That's kind of you Mr. Cool. I'll love to stay with you."
"Please call me Tre," he gave me the cutest smile in the world. A tear streamed down my cheek. Then he walked away to join the other two. Then I called my mom.
"Hello?" she didn't sound tired at all. As if she was waiting for me to call her back.
"Hey mom it's me."
"Oh Sydney how... " I cut her off.
"Mom I need to tell you something. You have to promise me you won't get mad or tell the lady at the foster home."
"Anything for you hunny."
"I'm at the airport and I'm going to California to find my dad, and I'm sorry of earlier. Your not the one that put me through the pain it was Brian and... "
"I promise I wont call. If she calls me and asks me where you went I wont tell her, and don't let Brian get to you. Don't let your thoughts of him ruin your life any more. When you make it to California call me and I'll tell you who your dad is."
"Thanks mom." I still call Darla mom because even though she was drunk all the time she was still there for me. She still loved me even through all the pain Brian but us, well mostly me, through.
"I love you Sydney." I haven't heard my mom say that in forever.
"I love you to mom." I hung up and began to cry.
(Tre's POV)
I walked over to the guys after talking to Sydney.
"What she say?"
"She said she would love to stay with me."
"Really?"
"No Billie I'm lying."
"When are you going to tell her that you are her father?" Mike asked me as we walked back to Sydney.
"I'll tell her when we get to California." When we reached Sydney she was crying.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." she replied as she looked at me with her beautiful blue eyes. My eyes. I can tell she's the type that kept in her feelings.
"Flight thirteen to Oakland, California is boarding now," I heard the lady on the intercom say.
"Come on lets go." We all boarded the plane.
(Billie's POV)
My seat on the plane was next to Sydney. She wasn't a very talkative person. She just sat there and listened to her I pod. Then I nudged her. She pulled out one of the ear phones and gave me a dirty look.
"Hey, can I see that for a minute?" I asked. She handed it to me and I looked at the song she was listening to. 'Words I might of ate'. Then I went through the rest of the songs. Everything on here was Green Day. From 1039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours to Bullet In A Bible. I can see now she was a Green Day fan.
"You like Green Day I see," I said handing her back the I pod.
"Of course I do Mr. Armstrong. Any one that doesn't like Green Day or doesn't know who Green Day is is missing out on some good shit."
"Please call me Billie Joe or Billie or anything in between."
"Okay then. So I guess I should call Mr. Dirnt over there Mike?"
"Correct. Hey is your hair naturally black like that?" She nodded her head yes.
"Man I wish I had natural black hair."
"Just be glad they invented black hair dye." She gave me one of those looks Tre gives. She is definitely her fathers daughter.
"You have pretty eyes. Does your mother have blue eyes?" I questioned. I felt really stupid because I knew she had Tre's eyes. Yet again she doesn't know Tre's her father.
"No my mom, well Darla, has brown eyes. She tells me that I have my fathers eyes but I wouldn't know that. I've never meet him before, nor my mother. But Darla is a mother to me so I call her mom even though I know she's not my mom. All I know about him is that when he and my mom had to give me up they were heart broken. Especially him. Or at east that's what my mom tells me. She never met my real mom. They took her away after birth and my father was never able to see her again. Anyway, she told me that he was only fifteen when he had to give me up and he was the only one that saw me after birth. The nurse was nice enough to let him see me before Brian and Darla took me."
"That's all you know about him?"
"Yeah. I wish I knew more but my mom wouldn't tell me anymore," she looked down at her shoes as she has been all night.
"I like your shoes."
"Thanks."
"Do you only wear them because we do?'
"No. I wear them because I find them to be really comfortable." She blushed.
"You do wear them because we do!"
"Okay. Yes that's why I wear them." She blushed some more and looked away. I giggled.
(Mike's POV)
The plane landed at the airport in Oakland. Sydney fell asleep so we had to wake her up.
"Sydney. Sydney. Wake up Sydney."
"Come on Sydney wake up." All three of us shook her until she woke.
"What. What happened?" she questioned as she got up and stretched.
"Were in Oakland Ms. Sleepy head."
"Really. Already?"
"Yeah. It was only a fifteen hour flight!"
"Come on lets go."
(Sydney's POV)
I followed Billie, Tre, and Mike off the plane to the baggage claim. We grabbed our bags and walked out of the airport. There were three limos lined up on the street. One for Tre, one for Mike, and the other for Billie. Tre and I said bye to the guys and climbed into the limo.
"So what do you think about California so far?"
"Well since I've been here for like ten minutes I really cant answer that question Tre, but if you get back to me in about an hour I'll tell you."
"Smart ass."
"Thank you."
It was so nice to be away from home. To be away from the hell I was living. This was my new start. My new life. I can start over when I find my real father.
"Shit!"
"What?"
"I have to call my mom."
"Well when your done... " he stopped talking when I put the phone to my ear
"Hello?"
"Hey mom!"
"Hey hunny. How was your flight?"
"It was pretty cool. I've never flown before and my friend who I just meet helped me out."
"Well that's cool."
"Yeah."
"I promised I would tell you who your father is so here it goes. Your father is a man by the name of Frank Wright. You might know him as Tre Cool, the drummer for Green Day." I dropped my phone. My chin dropped to the floor.
"Sydney? Whats wrong?"
I just sat there. I couldn't believe it. One of my idols was my father. Tre Cool. I looked at him wide eyed. I could hear my mom saying my name on the other line. I picked up my phone with shaky hands.
"Sydney you okay?"
"Yeah mom I-I'm fine. But I have to go okay? I'll call you later." then I hung up the phone.
"You look surprised," he said
"Well, I am. I just found out who my father was!" I stared at him and he stared back.
"After all these years I get to see my baby again," and he kept looking at me as he talked, "I thought this day would never come."
"D-dad?"
"Oh Sydney come here and give me a hug." We both were crying. I still couldn't believe that one of my idols was my father. "Oh my god you've gotten so big," he looked me in the eye, "and you have my eyes, and your mothers smile." He wiped the tears from my face. My mom, I mean Darla, was right. I do have his eyes. "I thought I would never see you again."
"I-I cant believe my idol is my father." He looked at me with wet eyes. I didn't know what else to say. I was speechless. I finally meet my father. My real dad. Tre Cool. We hugged again, this time for a long time. When we finally pulled away from each other he kissed me on the forehead. Then we pulled up to a house. It was big but not too big. It had a really nice lawn too. Tre got out of the car. He stood and stretched for a minute then grabbed my hand an led me through the same door.
"Welcome home."
He grabbed mine and his bags and headed for the front door. I followed behind him like a little puppy dog. He opened the door and led me through. We were in the kitchen. It was really nice. It had a lot of counter space. In the middle was a island with pots and pans hanging over it on a rack. Right across from the kitchen was the dining room. It wasn't too big. It was big enough to fit like ten people in it. Then on the right of the kitchen was a living room. A small yet cute living room. He led me through the kitchen then through the living room to the stairs.
"Ill show you to your room now."
We walked up the stairs and took a left and then another left. He opened the door and led me in. He plopped my stuff on the queen size bed and stood and stared at the walls. Then he turned around with tears streaming down his face. I didn't know what to say. I just stood there and looked at him. He did the same. We both were speechless.
(Tre's POV)
"I hope there is enough room for you here." She just looked at me. She too was crying. "Billie, Adie, Jakob, Joey, Mike, Anastasia, and Stella will be over for dinner." She nooded her head and fell to her knee's.
"What's wrong?"
"Its just... never mind."
"No tell me."
"Its just I never had anyone do some much for me in one day," she said as she sobbed.
"What do you mean?"
She just looked at me. Then she looked down to the floor. Then she took off her hoodie.
"You see these cuts and bruises," she said as she sobbed, "There from the fucking bastured I called dad for twelve years. He beat me. He beat me and my fucking mother." I just looked at her in disbelief. "Every nigh my "parents" would get drunk and they would fight. If my "father" lost he would take it out on me. He would whip me with his fucking belt. Sometimes he would handcuff me to my bed and keep me there for one or two days without any food. If he wasn't getting any from my mom that little fucker would rape me." Still I looked at her with disbelief. She stood up and came over to the bed with me, still crying. "My mother tried what she could to keep me safe. To keep him form hurting me. Every time she tried he would take her out. Two nights ago he punched my mom as she stood up for me. I took the bat I had hidden behind my bed and I hit him with it. I was fed up with his stupid drunken shit. That's when I had my chance to leave. So I packed my shit and I left with his fucking credit card. Then fucking DCF found me and brought me to some god forsaken foster home. The only thing I had there was my music and the fucking weed I left there. Then that's when I ran away from there. That's when I met you." I looked at her as tears streamed down my face. She was crying so hard she began to choke on her own saliva.
"That man. That fucking bastured told me before he took you from me that he and Darla would never let anything happen to you. He promised me he would keep you safe. And look at what he's done to you. Look at what he's done to my baby!" I too was crying so hard I began to choke on my own saliva. "I made a promise to myself that day that I would find him and take him down if he ever hurt you when you were in his care." I didn't know what else to say. I felt so sorry for her. I felt as if I should have been there to save her. But I wasn't.
(Sydney's POV)
I had nothing else to say. I spilled my guts and now I was tired. I was tired from crying, tired from running. I just wanted to sleep now.
"D-dad," I said in a nervous voice hopping it would sound good. He looked at me. His eyes glistened. I guess he liked it when I called him dad. "I'm kind of tired from all the commotion. I haven't had a decent amount of sleep in the past five years so is it okay if I take a nap before everyone comes."
"Sure Sydney," he said. He stood up and kissed me on the forehead. "Ill come and wake you up when everyone's here." Then he closed the door and he was gone. I closed my eyes and feel asleep. For once in my life I felt at home, safe and secure.
