They sky was a dark blue, leaves were pouring from the trees. Our feet were covered in orange, and red leaves as we walked down the street heading home. You could hear leaves being crushed under our feet. My best friend Ali and I were chatting about how much we hate math. The work load was too much in calculus, even worse we had a sucky teacher. “Anna, are you going to Caleb’s party tomorrow night?” Ali asked eating her ice cream.

“Yeah maybe, If I don’t have work.” I replied back licking the vanilla ice cream off my spoon. “Well you should,”  Ali turned to look at me “He’s totally into you!” She yelled laughing. I gasped turning to her and pushed her playfully. I told her that he was not into me, because he’s definitely into guys. We continued walking and we heard a cheerily voice call out “Hey guys!” Ali and I both turned around to see who it was. Mona Vanderwaal, she was waving her hand in the air. Mona was not the definition of cool. She was known as “Loser Mona” around our high school. People picked on her relentlessly. Especially Ali, I felt bad for Mona at times. Mona wears big glasses and two pigtails. Her clothes were sloppy and out of season. “Wait up!” Mona yelled from down the street. I looked at Ali stunned. Ali laughed, grab me by the arm and yelled, “Run!”  We both ran down the sidewalk giggling. We turned down an alleyway, to lose Mona. A little down the road there was a parked car. That looks like my dads car, I thought to myself. “That looks like your dads car, wait it is him.” Ali said sequencing her eyes. I recognized the license plate to his all black 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The front of the car was facing the opposite direction we were walking. But Ali and I both had view of what was going on inside. “Oh my god, Anna!” Ali screamed. We ducked behind a green garbage can and peaked over it to continue to look. My father was in the driver seat, but he wasn’t alone. A young women with blonde hair was in the passenger seat. I was confused. Why is my father in an alleyway with some women.  My thoughts consumed me as I begin to think the worst. No, he wouldn’t, he couldn’t, could he?! But it wasn't my thoughts Ali had spoken aloud, coincidently  we were thinking the same thing. We continue to watch them engage in conversation. Suddenly, my dad puts his arm behind his mistress seat, and leans in. She was smiling brightly and leaned in his direction. Their lips intertwined and my world begin to spin. Ali and I gasped and jumped to our feet. We looked at each other in complete disbelief, and looked back at the car. “I can’t believe this!” I screamed. Ali ducked down again and shushed me. This act caught the attention of someone I thought I knew. My dad had a astounded look on his face, as he watched me in the rearview mirror of his car. I wish I had a camera to capture his facial expression. Tears formed in my eyes, I never felt more betrayed and angry in my life. How could he? I can’t believe the man who I call my dad would do this. To me, my sister, my brothers, my mom, our family! Oh God!  I thought to myself, My mom! How would she take the news, she’s going to be so devastated. I stared down the man I thought I knew with a flame in my eyes. I shook my head at him and stormed away angrily. “Anna!, Anna!” Ali yelled running behind me. My vision became blurry from the water pooling in my eyes. Ali caught up to me and pulled me into her chest, comforting me. I was at a lost for words, my mind could not believe what was just witnessed.

I went over to Ali’s house because I couldn’t face my mother or my family with the information that I knew. Ali and I were sitting in silence, all you could hear in the room is my sniffles. “Anna, I’m so sorry..” Ali whispered rubbing my back.

“What do I do?” I questioned.

“You have to tell your mom.” She replied back. I turned my head to her so fast, my head could of popped off.
“What?! No way!” I declined. Ali jumped up from the bed.

“You have too! She has a right to know!” Ali preached to me. She was right. She does have a right to know, but how am I going to tell her.  It was now Friday morning and I was up getting ready for school. When I got home from Ali’s I stayed in my room all night. Pretending to be asleep. I grabbed my backpack and my car keys and headed for the door. At school Ali, my friends and I came up with a plan to help me break the news to my mother. I thought she should know, so I came to the conclusion that I would tell her after school. I dreaded hearing the final bell ring to release us for the day.  I took a deep breathe grabbed my bag and headed out to my car. When I arrived into my driveway my stomach began to ache. Butterflies erupt in me, I feel like I could faint. As I walked up closer to my front door I heard loud voices. I walked inside the house, and closed the door behind me. I saw that there were suitcases by the door. Confused, I followed the voices, which led me to the kitchen. My mother and father were in there screaming at each other. They stopped once they were aware of my presence. They both turned to me and my father spoke first. “Anna.” He said softly. This was my first time seeing him since catching him locking lips with a woman that wasn’t my mother.

“What’s going on?” I asked hesitantly. My mother began to cry.

“Tell her, Jim! Tell her!” My mother yelled gesturing at me.

“Luise please, He begged “Let’s leave our kids out of it.”

“No tell her!” My mother pounded on my dad's chest. I jumped back startled by the occasion.

“We’re getting a divorced.” He said looking at me shamefully.

I didn’t know what to do or say. I just stood there looking at them.

“Tell her why!” My mother shouted throwing her fists at my father's face. He grabbed her arms and held her tightly, so she wouldn’t cause him any harm. “Because you’re a cheater!” My mom yelled wiggling trying to break free from my father’s grip.

I pretended to be shocked and placed my hand over my mouth. My dad looked at me with a knowing look. He released my mother and she fell to the floor sobbing. I felt my heart sink as I went over to her and held her. I looked up at my dad with tears in my eyes and shook my head. “I’ll get the rest of my stuff next week.” My father grabbed his suitcases and walked out the door. 

It’s been almost nine months since that day and life has been crazy. My older brother named, Mason, a sophomore in college was the angriest I've seen him. He refused to talk to my father. Which is understandable. When they were last together, things were said and fist were flying.  My 14 year old brother Mike didn't have to much to say about it. Besides the fact that he wanted to live with dad instead of mom. He's just been up hidden in his room. My twin sister and I have been playing the role of mom, since our mother is absent. Out of all of us, she's  definitely taking it the hardest. As time went on she lost her true self. It was like she stopped caring. At first it was waking up late for work, then waking up late and not getting to shower, to missing work for days and completely not bathing. Her children became second to alcohol. It was like it was her best friend. We tried to get her out of bed but she was too drunk to do anything. My father took her to court and won full custody over us. Besides my dear brother because he is legal. We moved in with my dad, but not only him we moved in with her. I was livid! Beyond livid! Her name is Melissa, she's 10 years younger than my dad and she's a teacher. Her and my dad met at a cafe and been having an affair for awhile. Melissa tries to be nice to my siblings and I but all that's out of the window. Maybe we were a little hard on her but she deserves it for breaking up my family. And oh boy did she get her karma. They both did.

It turns out that Mrs. Melissa also has a second life. The only thing real about her is her age. Her real name is Sandra Baldwin. She’s from Russia and she too also has 4 kids. Her ex husband is the boss of the Russian Mob Bratva. He was very abusive to her and her children. Sandra a.k.a Melissa got the courage to leave him finally. One day she decided to get a lump some of money and leave. She stole 10 million dollars from him. She took her kids and the money and flead Russia. Once she arrived to America, she moved here. She dyed her hair blonde and got blue eye contacts. She sent her kids to Canada with her parents so they’ll be safe. She made sure to cover her tracks and has been successful for five years. Until one day. Sandra’s ex husband finally tracked her down. He found his children and killed Sandra’s parents. He found out where Sandra was staying, which is with my dad. One day, when my dad was at work and we were at school. Sandra was home alone. Her ex husband surprised her by showing up. He threatened to kill all of us if she didn’t leave with him. He beat her and trashed our house. She gave in out of fear and he took her back to Russia. When we arrived home that day my dad was there pacing the floors. Our house was a mess, there was a symbol painted on our walls in red. I thought we have been robbed. My dad became even more concerned when Sandra wasn’t returning any of his calls. My dad called the police and filed a missing persons report. My father became depressed as time went on. We didn’t hear from her in a month, when my father got a phone call from her. She explained everything and apologised profusely. My father was heartbroken and angry that he couldn’t do anything about the situation. Afraid of getting killed. Suddenly he took the place of my mother. He didn’t leave bed for weeks, he stopped showing up to work. He was heartbroken just like my mother was. As for my mother, she is doing good. She’s back to her old self. She traveled around the world for awhile and she’s dating again. We’re back living with her and life is good.