"Are you sure you want to do this now? I ask him. "We can do this when we are going back."419Please respect copyright.PENANAKezpacoLgN
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"No. This is important. It is best that we do it soon."419Please respect copyright.PENANAmIWOMeq0jv
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On our way into Columbus, Calvin informed me that he would be taking me to my parents house, insisting that I had to start repairing my broken relationship with them at some point, and since I'm in Columbus today, I might as well see them.419Please respect copyright.PENANAByNsaLyotC
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As he drives down the road to my parents' house, I realize that I didn't tell him the way.419Please respect copyright.PENANAXTzD2h7zf4
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"I can't believe that you remember," I whisper to myself in amazement.419Please respect copyright.PENANAVTtjtXn0Vd
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"I have an impressive memory," he boasts. "Besides, it's not that hard to remember."419Please respect copyright.PENANAkjfQOW735R
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Before I know it, were in front of my childhood home, and I'm shaking with nerves.419Please respect copyright.PENANAEEu5s7qrei
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"I wish I could come with you," he begins, as he puts the car into park, "but this is something that you have to face on your own."419Please respect copyright.PENANA4YG39gtgGX
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"I get it," I assure him, getting out of the car and walking up to the front door with shaky steps. I knock on the door three times, and then wait for what feels like an eternity before the door swings open.419Please respect copyright.PENANAOxu7Ydujrb
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"Reina?" my mother asks in open surprise, her jaw going slack. Looking back at the shiny silver car, I see Calvin nod his head in encouragement through the windshield. I turn back to my mother and let out a heavy sigh, preparing for the torment about to come. This is going to be a long day.419Please respect copyright.PENANAIknmbSdMfr
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***419Please respect copyright.PENANAlMu3CeXC9M
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We've all been staring at each other for fifteen minutes, and I'm begining to feel guilty for Calvin spending his gas money running the engine outside.419Please respect copyright.PENANA5XKztLXnrC
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"How's my little girl doing?" my father asks.419Please respect copyright.PENANA71xfL3VtHy
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"Fine. I'm fine, dad." I really do try to keep the hostility out of my voice, but I know, deep in my heart that there is no way that he didn't hear it.419Please respect copyright.PENANAydC6EY3vct
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"Reina, why don't you visit us?" My mother asks gently. That only pissed me off; she must know why.419Please respect copyright.PENANAumTG34xIVf
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"Brian."419Please respect copyright.PENANAZdWfadcRLw
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Look of utter disbelief crossed her face. I guess she didn't know after all.419Please respect copyright.PENANANhu326wk22
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"Darling, that was so long ago."419Please respect copyright.PENANA5Okovn9p67
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"And it affects me to this very day."419Please respect copyright.PENANAYWw4Wgd3sr
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"We're sorry—"419Please respect copyright.PENANAzeiFwqRioV
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I know that, mom!" I explode. "I know you're sorry! So why is it so hard for me to forgive?"419Please respect copyright.PENANAax1EZegrmU
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Silence follows my outburst.419Please respect copyright.PENANASizM40ZHQl
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"I don't know," my mother answers honestly. "At least you came," she says to me, optimistic as ever.419Please respect copyright.PENANAUcRAWhgGXI
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But I wasn't going to come. 419Please respect copyright.PENANAQwtgvDlXzg
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"Yeah, you're right. At least I did. I have to go."419Please respect copyright.PENANAMTm0fhONmM
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I march with determination out of the house, and they don't try to stop me.419Please respect copyright.PENANAkkdvM9kTmD
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***419Please respect copyright.PENANAwonLAracKH
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It's been two weeks since I went to Columbus. Since then, every day, I try to call my parents at least once a day. I've decided to make an effort to forgive them, for myself, if for no one else. As for Calvin, we hang out sometimes, do things that friends do. It's strange to have your first friend at twenty seven, but it's a good strange.419Please respect copyright.PENANApfXQSINEn4
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"Make sure that you are ready by the time that I get there," he tells me over the phone.419Please respect copyright.PENANAvLjDAsS3TI
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"Yeah, yeah," I mutter, dragging on my favourite pair of jeans. "I'm ready right now. The only reason why I wasn't ready last time is because ketchup got on my clothes and I had to change."419Please respect copyright.PENANAo2iuGgoCaW
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"Well, I'm leaving the house now. Please don't make me wait."419Please respect copyright.PENANAygC4B9KR3T
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"Okay."419Please respect copyright.PENANAGf4HQQG5rh
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After hanging up the phone, I settle down in front of the television to watch an episode of South Park, but it's not long before I hear the doorbell ring.419Please respect copyright.PENANAlsjXF5DiCS
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"Coming!" I shout.419Please respect copyright.PENANA7eO8EDMBGE
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I reach the door just as he starts banging on it — impatient much? — and wrench it open.419Please respect copyright.PENANA7YmtyLgOHJ
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"Could you be any more impatient?"419Please respect copyright.PENANAk4N6lxC6hO
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"I thought that you'd be in your underwear, or something, and that I'd have to wait for two hours."419Please respect copyright.PENANAmGt426L6u0
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"Calm down. It wasn't two hours," I tell him as I pick up my bag and go to arm the house.419Please respect copyright.PENANAUWNIM3okfG
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"Hurry up. I can't wait to take you to where we're going."419Please respect copyright.PENANA8MtCG3svH2
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"Where are we going, by the way?"419Please respect copyright.PENANA1DG41DhTfT
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"It's a surprise."419Please respect copyright.PENANACwIPQAAuQz
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I hate when people answer me like that. It's extremely annoying.419Please respect copyright.PENANAAacoC2j6Md
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"What if the car crashes before we reach?" I ask, walking up to his silver car and waiting for him to unlock it.419Please respect copyright.PENANAgCQWi0Ea8r
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"Then that's just how it is."419Please respect copyright.PENANA7zDpJTqvCf
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"Whatever. As long as I get fed, we're good."419Please respect copyright.PENANAgWVa0LZAFk
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"Food will be there," he answers, unlocking the car so that we can both sit inside.419Please respect copyright.PENANA8MYtEbdpJH
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Once we are on our way, I begin to annoy him by asking "Are we there yet?" every three minutes.419Please respect copyright.PENANAl91qdQVey2
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"Are we—"419Please respect copyright.PENANAsedhzu1Mqt
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"Almost. Christ, could you stop already?" he begs.419Please respect copyright.PENANAtZDBZDaVDl
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"No, because I have no idea where we're going." I look around at my surroundings, trying to make an intelligent guess.419Please respect copyright.PENANAi6OpVsghV6
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"You won't get it," he tells me with a smirk, guessing my intentions.419Please respect copyright.PENANAQfY9DDvOM1
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"Come on," I whine.419Please respect copyright.PENANAboYaPXjVaN
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"Nope," he replies, his smirk broadening into a grin.419Please respect copyright.PENANAT3VXi1qIvd
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For the rest of the ride, I look out the car window, a scowl etched into my face.419Please respect copyright.PENANA0l5sTgJVHh
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"We're here," he tells me.419Please respect copyright.PENANAJey8A31iuH
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I look up and see about a hundred metres ahead, what looks like a warehouse with a neon green sign on it, too far away for the words to be read.419Please respect copyright.PENANAIApN2VXQNF
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"What is that?" I ask him.419Please respect copyright.PENANA0bexwOBJ7N
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"Come and find out."419Please respect copyright.PENANAHphKeozcJI
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I follow him out of the car, and walk up to the building, to see that the sign declares that it is a karaoke club.419Please respect copyright.PENANAnuSDGraXEU
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"I remembered that you said that you love karaoke. Do you approve?"419Please respect copyright.PENANAbaxv7SgijI
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"Of course!" I shout. How could I not? I love karaoke, and he made a special effort to make me happy.419Please respect copyright.PENANALO8azqAjDs
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Standing here, outside of this karaoke club, I realize something; my life has been very dysfunctional. Brian took a lot out of me. However, I've done my part in seeking justice for the victims of horrendous crimes, I've made some amount of progress with my parents, and I've made one very good friend. It is true that my life isn't perfect. However considering where I'm coming from, and in terms of progress, it's a good place to start.419Please respect copyright.PENANAXiYavFFRHP
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"Come on," he says, pulling on my arm, taking me inside of the club. I enter with a small smile on my face, because for the first time in a long time, things are looking up.419Please respect copyright.PENANAL3cy9QkBp8
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