What doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger by Lauren Elizabeth (phonics readers .TXT) 📖

You should have seen the look in my baby sister’s eyes when I told her Daddy wasn’t coming back. I said Daddy had died protecting our America and when he took his last breath in that dessert, the angels then carried him away to be with God, Jesus, and Mary our Mother… and our Mama. Hailey just looked up at me with big brown eyes as her five-year-old brain tried to process the horrific news. A single tear rolled down her ivory cheek. Her voice was soft and sad as she asked if I was going to leave her too.
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My mother’s voice penetrated the walls of my bedroom as she yelled at my father. It was a routine: the arguing, the screaming, the cursing. Each night was a different argument, with the same focal point; always about money. Mom and dad liked their beer, and somehow our lack of money was the other’s fault. That night’s battle was fought with slurred words and pushing as each tried to rid themselves of responsibility. No matter how many bruises from words and physical abuse my parents inflicted on each other, they could never compare to scars they left on my soul.
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Mama never could find the right man or a good man. Every guy that came to “complete” her just broke her emotionally and physically. When Mama would have enough with hurting, we would pack up the Chevy in the dead of night while he was asleep. Mama, Kelly, and I would sneak away to the nearest motel. She’d say this would never happen again, she learned this time. Kelly and I would just look at each other. We knew Mama was going to find a new “soul mate” and we were going to end up sleeping in another motel bed.

Publication Date: 08-17-2010

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