Oh god, the memories just keep coming back of the summer.
Sitting in my stuffy room in constant fear, constantly feeling scared and depressed. Not knowing what was going on.
The custody thing still haunts me, and it's been over for a few months.
I keep getting flashbacks.
Sitting on my bed, a knot in my stomach as I watched the clock, willing the time to stop so that I didn't have to go to court.
So that I didn't have to speak with a judge about the false claims that my father was abusing us.
So I didn't have to argue with my two brothers, who were lying just because they didn't want to live with him.
It's the most terrible feeling ever.
All I can think of is sitting in that big room, in that big chair in front of the big judge.
Watching as my dad and step-mom looked at us longingly outside of the room.
They had to ask their lawyer's permission to hug us.
My brothers didn't care.
I did.
I didn't want to leave them.
But I was dragged away.
I told my mom many times that I didn't want to go with her.
She didn't listen.
Now my four year old half-sister has to grow up with no siblings.
She always asks, "Why did you guys leave"
How do you explain a custody dispute to a four year old?
How do you explain why you're not there anymore?
I feel terrible.
I wanted to stay.
But it's too late.
You know how embarrassing it is to walk into school tardy after your fourth time in court, dressed fancy.
To hand the lady at the front desk a note that says, "[My Name] is late because she was in court."
And then they write a note for my teacher that says, "Excused Tardy. In Court."
Then the teacher reads it as you stand there.
And you feel miserable because of what happened.
You feel like they judge you.
They don't know why you were there.
I can't stop remembering.
Someone please save me.












