'I fell.' Where, Scott, where? 'I ran into a door.' Seven times? 'I fell off my
skateboard.' And it was that bad? 'I fell down the stairs.' You don't have stairs. 'I
fell off my bed.' Not with that much force, you didn't.

The first time I knew something was wrong was when the doctor was examining him after his little
'drug episode'. I was still angry at him for getting high and passing out, but I was worried
about all the bruises on his body.

'Scott babe, why do you keep changing your story? If you don't tell anyone else, at least trust
me. You know I would never tell a soul, especially if it's that important,' I pleaded with him.
'Abby, I can't. If I do, someone would get hurt. I promised I wouldn't tell anyone. You have
no idea how much I want to tell you but I just can't,' he replied. 'Yes you can, Scott.
Please. I'm so worried about you. I have to know, I'm going to lose my mind,' I reasoned.
'Alright fine. I'll tell you,' he said reluctantly. 'Thank you. Now explain to me why you
have so many bruises,' I demanded. 'My step mom is leaving my dad. And she is fighting for
custody of my little sister. My dad's been really messed up lately. He gets drunk a lot. I get in
his way,' he explained with a heavy heart.

My eyes welled up with tears that almost immediately overflowed. Scott, my Scott, was being hit by
his own father. And what's worse, it's for something he couldn't even control. I had
suspicions, and usually my suspicions were right. I just wish this time I had been wrong.

'Oh Scott. That's terrible. Please, get help. You shouldn't have to put up with this crap, and
you don't have to,' I told him. 'You can't tell anyone Abby. My dad said if anyone ever
found out, it would just get worse. It's my fault anyway. If I hadn't asked to go to my
uncle's over break, my step-mom never would have found out that my dad was still in love with my
mom. It's my fault, I can take it, really,' he said.

I began sobbing uncontrollably. He was blaming himself. What kind of animal hits his own child, then
somehow makes him think it's his fault? I though to myself.

'Scott , this is in no way your fault and don't you dare think that.
It's your dad's fault for loving your mom. It's your step mom's fault for being such a baby
about it. And it's your dad's fault for getting drunk and taking it out on you. Don't you ever
say that you are to blame for this,' I said fiercely.

'Okay okay, I'll stop. But don't tell anyone, you can't. Please,' he begged. 'Alright I
won't. But if it gets worse, you HAVE to tell me Scott,' I insisted. 'Okay, I will. Oh, I
have to go, my dad is here. I love you, I'll talk to you tomorrow,' he said.

I went and sat on the couch. I cried for hours and hours. I couldn't believe this was happening.
The one guy I love and trust with my life was being abused. It was so hard. It was way too much to
take in all at once. But I had to, I didn't have a choice anymore.

The next day I was talking and laughing with my best friend Jordan, who is also Scott's best
friend. 'Oh no, I hate that I'm about to ruin your good mood,' he said with a bitter tone.
'What is it? What's wrong?' I asked worriedly. 'It's Scott. My mom just called me,' he
said. 'Is he'..?' I asked, not wanting to finish my thought. My mind immediately went to his
dad, and I was worried it had gotten much worse. 'No, he's alive. But he can't move his
leg,' Jordan said. 'Oh wow. Did his dad do it?' I asked with hatred in my voice. 'He told my
mom he fell'' he replied, answering my question. ' Is he going to be okay? It's just
his leg right?' I asked. 'Yeah, it's just his leg. But his knee cap might be broken, he'll
probably need surgery,' he explained. 'Ugh. I hate him! That jerk needs to stay out of our
life! Why won't Scott just tell anyone?!' I asked angrily. 'Because you know it will get worse
if he does, Abby,' he said. 'I know, I know. But I still hate it,' I replied.

I was angry for the next few days, actually I was furious. Anytime someone mentioned Scott I thought
of his dad and I began to shake with anger. It's impossible to word how worried I was those couple
days. I was beginning to forget about it a little when I went to the movies. Then Jessica said that
he had to get surgery. I was so insanely mad that I began to cry. I told her how angry I was that
he was going through this. 'Abby did we forget to tell you? Scott's dad got arrested. He's
gone, he can never touch Scott again,' she told me. A wave of relief flooded over me. It was over,
he was gone. He could never hurt my Scott again. Scott was safe.

The next few hours were a whirlwind. He was going to have to move, because both of his biological
parents are incapable of taking care of him. I was still ecstatic that he was safe.

I don't know what's going to happen now. He may move to New York with his grandparents.
Jordan's parents may adopt him. He may be placed in foster care. I'm not sure where he'll end
up. I don't know if I'll ever see him again. All I know is that nothing else matters to me but
the fact that he is safe, and his dad will never hurt him again.

This whole thing showed me that if you have faith and keep your chin up, things will all work out.
You just have to have hope, and stay strong.