April 19
Kamryn Ryan
The day I got home from school on April 19 I knew something difficult was about to happen. All of my life I had been moving from City to City because of my dad’s job. At last we settled in the one place that I could finally call home. Although, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to call this place home. It was a small town on the coast of Florida. It was quiet and everyone knew everyone. My parents decided to enroll me at the only High School in town. It was eerie and not many students talked to each other. I figured it would be like any town I’ve ever lived in. I would make friends get too attached then have to move again. It seemed like no one here wanted to make any friends. It was completely silent during classroom transitions and even in class. The teachers were all gloomy and depressed. I had no clue what place my parents had brought me to.
That day was like any other. I had the same expectations as the day before. I would go to my boring school, go another day without making friends, then go home and have dinner with my parents and my sister. But when we were at dinner my dad informed us that we wouldn’t be moving around anymore. I though I’d be relieved when I finally heard those words, but I wasn’t. Quite the opposite actually. I was angry so angry I could run away. If only I had the money for a plane, bus, or train ticket. Instead, I told my dad I was happy for him and went back to my room and cried in my pillow. That night I made a promise to myself. I promised I’d never put my any child through whatever my parents had put me through. I couldn’t help but wonder what the reason was for my dad choosing to stay. I thought he hated this place just as much as we did. My
mom most definitely wasn’t happy here. I could tell by the look on her face that she was not apart of this decision.
The next day, April 19, I went to school and everyone was socializing. It was something I had never seen before. They all had there phones out and were whispering and pointing at me. I decided to walk up to one of the students at their locker and asked what they were looking at. She turned her phone to me and that’s when I saw it. My father had been arrested and charged with murder. So many thoughts were running through my mind. I didn’t know whether to cry or scream maybe both at the same time. I knew I had to go home and get some answers. I got on the nearest bus home and when I got there, thousands of police were parked in front of my house. My sister was crying on the front porch, so I ran up to her and asked where my mom was. She was struggling to breath and couldn’t get the words out of her mouth. That’s when I knew. My mother was dead.
This was not only a family crisis but a crime altogether. Why would my dad do this? What did my mom do? How am I going to live without my parents? So many questions running around over and over in my head. Which one do I ask first? I knew I had to comfort my sister before anything. So, I went and just held her. Next thing I knew Child Protective Services was at my house to pick up me and my sister. We didn’t have any family that we knew of, and had no friends to go stay with. I begged the CPS workers to let me and my sister stay together but they ultimately decided they didn’t have enough room for both of us to live together. Being ripped away from my sister was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with.
A year living with my foster family and I still couldn’t help but wonder what my dad did to my mom or why. I contacted my sister once but nothing stayed the same. She had moved on
and I couldn’t figure out how. I had nightmares every night and had no way to escape them. That is until my grandparents showed up.
When Cindy my foster mom, told me my grandparents were here to pick me up I didn’t believe her. I didn’t know I had any relatives left alive let alone relatives that cared for me. When they got to the house they came to the conclusion that I needed to go home and live with them. It was confusing and I’m not sure why they all of a sudden they wanted to meet me or have any role in my life.
We got to their house which was three and a half hours away from where I was staying. The car ride was silent and nobody wanted to speak about what happened. Why though? Why won’t anyone talk about what happened? I guess it will always be a mystery. But I thought "No I must find out what happened." So the next day I planned to sneak out of my house and go back to my old town and at least ask some questions.
I woke up early the next morning packed a bag full of clothes and snacks then started my journey. I had enough money to buy a bus ticket so I got on the closest bus to this small town and headed off.
Once I arrived I was tired and ready to find a place to sleep but I knew if I didn't go to the house now that I would never be able to. I walked a solid 4 miles before I got to the house where the "crime" happened. The caution tape was still in tact and everything looked the same as when I had left.
I crawled under the caution tape so carefully so no one would ever know I was there. I opened the door to the house and immediately felt chills throughout my whole body. I checked every room and found nothing suspicious. Then I realized I had left one area unchecked. The basement.
I opened the door and saw the dark stairs that seemed to never end. I walked slowly walked down the first two steps that were so squeaky you could probably hear me coming from a mile away.
I finally got to the bottom expecting to be stunned at what I saw but once again everything seemed normal. Nothing out of place and I was no longer scared. I backed up and BAM! Someone grabbed my shoulders and threw a bag over my head.
I woke up 1 hour later and couldn't see anything. "Where am I?!" I yelled. The bag was slowly taken off of my head and a deep voice said "Hi Kammie" It was my mother and father...
That day was like any other. I had the same expectations as the day before. I would go to my boring school, go another day without making friends, then go home and have dinner with my parents and my sister. But when we were at dinner my dad informed us that we wouldn’t be moving around anymore. I though I’d be relieved when I finally heard those words, but I wasn’t. Quite the opposite actually. I was angry so angry I could run away. If only I had the money for a plane, bus, or train ticket. Instead, I told my dad I was happy for him and went back to my room and cried in my pillow. That night I made a promise to myself. I promised I’d never put my any child through whatever my parents had put me through. I couldn’t help but wonder what the reason was for my dad choosing to stay. I thought he hated this place just as much as we did. My
mom most definitely wasn’t happy here. I could tell by the look on her face that she was not apart of this decision.
The next day, April 19, I went to school and everyone was socializing. It was something I had never seen before. They all had there phones out and were whispering and pointing at me. I decided to walk up to one of the students at their locker and asked what they were looking at. She turned her phone to me and that’s when I saw it. My father had been arrested and charged with murder. So many thoughts were running through my mind. I didn’t know whether to cry or scream maybe both at the same time. I knew I had to go home and get some answers. I got on the nearest bus home and when I got there, thousands of police were parked in front of my house. My sister was crying on the front porch, so I ran up to her and asked where my mom was. She was struggling to breath and couldn’t get the words out of her mouth. That’s when I knew. My mother was dead.
This was not only a family crisis but a crime altogether. Why would my dad do this? What did my mom do? How am I going to live without my parents? So many questions running around over and over in my head. Which one do I ask first? I knew I had to comfort my sister before anything. So, I went and just held her. Next thing I knew Child Protective Services was at my house to pick up me and my sister. We didn’t have any family that we knew of, and had no friends to go stay with. I begged the CPS workers to let me and my sister stay together but they ultimately decided they didn’t have enough room for both of us to live together. Being ripped away from my sister was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with.
A year living with my foster family and I still couldn’t help but wonder what my dad did to my mom or why. I contacted my sister once but nothing stayed the same. She had moved on
and I couldn’t figure out how. I had nightmares every night and had no way to escape them. That is until my grandparents showed up.
When Cindy my foster mom, told me my grandparents were here to pick me up I didn’t believe her. I didn’t know I had any relatives left alive let alone relatives that cared for me. When they got to the house they came to the conclusion that I needed to go home and live with them. It was confusing and I’m not sure why they all of a sudden they wanted to meet me or have any role in my life.
We got to their house which was three and a half hours away from where I was staying. The car ride was silent and nobody wanted to speak about what happened. Why though? Why won’t anyone talk about what happened? I guess it will always be a mystery. But I thought "No I must find out what happened." So the next day I planned to sneak out of my house and go back to my old town and at least ask some questions.
I woke up early the next morning packed a bag full of clothes and snacks then started my journey. I had enough money to buy a bus ticket so I got on the closest bus to this small town and headed off.
Once I arrived I was tired and ready to find a place to sleep but I knew if I didn't go to the house now that I would never be able to. I walked a solid 4 miles before I got to the house where the "crime" happened. The caution tape was still in tact and everything looked the same as when I had left.
I crawled under the caution tape so carefully so no one would ever know I was there. I opened the door to the house and immediately felt chills throughout my whole body. I checked every room and found nothing suspicious. Then I realized I had left one area unchecked. The basement.
I opened the door and saw the dark stairs that seemed to never end. I walked slowly walked down the first two steps that were so squeaky you could probably hear me coming from a mile away.
I finally got to the bottom expecting to be stunned at what I saw but once again everything seemed normal. Nothing out of place and I was no longer scared. I backed up and BAM! Someone grabbed my shoulders and threw a bag over my head.
I woke up 1 hour later and couldn't see anything. "Where am I?!" I yelled. The bag was slowly taken off of my head and a deep voice said "Hi Kammie" It was my mother and father...
Cadet Ryan, Kamryn enjoys playing multiple sports and strives to be at the top of her class senior year. She enjoys being with friends and family and tasting new foods. Ryan also enjoys traveling in her free time.