Chapter one: Getting to know me Most people start their stories off with once upon a time or having something dramatic happen for the better, but not my story. The year I turned fifteen was the worst year of my life. It all happened as my mother predicted when our dad got laid off of his job. The manager told him they were doing cut backs. Everyone in town knew it was because my dad caught the manager cheating on his wife. Dads a firm believer in being faithful to your wife and family. Things only got worse for me and my brother Alex. First mom got sick, then dad got beat up by loan sharks they wanted their money back a week after they gave it to him. As the months went by the loan sharks got even worse with dad, following him home, cutting his tires, they even came to the hospital. The fist darkened day was when things seemed to be going great for us finally. Dad had found a job, and mom seemed to be doing better. So dad took us out for dinner and a movie. It was great, but while we were on our way to the hospital a dark car stopped in front of us causing us to hit the car from behind. My father was frantic trying to see if we were all okay, but what was more horrifying then the wreck was what happened after. The men in the car ahead of us got out and came to dads side of the car, they pulled him out and started beating him. It was scary to see the things they did, but dad did get away for a bit... “Sam drive away now....leave.” He screamed as they chased him back towards the car. I could never forget the night my father was shot in front of me. After that night mom got worse and then two months later she passed away. She was buried right next to dad. The night she died she had a smile on her face. She had known that she was leaving soon and she wanted dad to record us all together so she always had a camera on her face. She said she wanted Alex to remember