text: Present day (Sam) \- "Wait... what do you mean by that?"- I asked, completely confused. \- "You heard me. She died giving birth to you."- he said, with the most disgusted face he could make. I looked at Ethan. He was shocked. I was frozen and couldn't move. She died giving birth to me? I... killed her? Before I could organize my thoughts, my father punched me in the nose. I was so shocked I couldn't even feel the pain. only the blood running down my nose. \- "HEY! Stop that!"- Etan yelled.- "Sam, come here. We're going to the hospital, now!" Ethan grabbed me and led me to the outside. My father was just going in circles around the kitchen saying "crap", again and again. Ethan called his parents and, in the blink of an eye, they were at my door. \- "Oh, Sam. What did he do to you? Are you okay?"- I was frozen and so, Mrs. Stevens helped me get in the car.- "Oh, sweetie. That bastard. I knew we should've done something before it was too late." Mr. Stevens entered my house yelling at my father. I tried to stop him, but nothing came out. I felt tears running down my face. Was I crying? How... how could he do this? I know he blames me, but I was just a baby. It wasn't my fault... was it? Am I really to blame? Did I really... killed my mother? It couldn't be. Ethan was holding me while I sobbed copiously. Between blood and tears, I stained all of my clothes and Ethan's. \- "Hey, dude. It's going to be okay. Don't worry. We'll take care of you."- Ethan comforted me. I was so out of it that I couldn't even answer him. I just hugged him stronger. We arrived at the hospital. I hadn't said a word since he punched me. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens talked to the nurse, and she wouldn't stop looking at me asking what had happened. I didn't say anything, and Mr. Stevens lied and said I injured myself playing football. She looked at me for a bit longer and then led us to a room. A couple minutes later and I had a piece of metal on my nose. Apparently, my father had broken it. I slept at Ethan's that night. I was staring at the top bunk bed while laying on the bottom one. I stood there in silence, crying and hoping Ethan wouldn't hear me. After half an hour, Ethan asked if I was awake. \- "Hey, Sam. Are you awake?" \- "Yes."- I mumbled. \- "How are you doing?"- I didn't answer him.- "You know we love you, right?" \- "Yeah, I know. But why didn't he?"- I asked. \- "I don't know, pal. I'm sorry." After a few hours, I fell asleep. I had the worst nightmare that night and woke up gasping for air. Ethan helped me calm me down and then we went into the kitchen. \- "Good morning, Sam. How are you?". Mrs. Stevens asked. \- "I'm not sure. My nose still hurts a lot."- I answered. \- "Don't worry about it. The doctor gave us some painkillers for you. It should be less painful in a few hours."- Mrs. Stevens informed me. \- "Thank you."- I said. \- You hungry?"- Mr. Stevens asked me. \- "No, not really. But thanks."- I said. \- "C'mon. You need to eat something. Just a yogurt, at least."- Mr. Stevens convinced me. \- "Okay..."- I compromised. I spent the whole day quiet while Ethan's parents tried to solve the mess my father had made the night before. Ethan tried to distract me as much as he could the whole day. We played some games, went for a walk and watched a movie. He was the best friend I could ever have asked for. At the end of the day, I just hugged him and thanked me. He hugged me back and said I didn't have to. It was agreed after a few weeks that Ethan's parents would take my custody. I'd live with them, and they reported the accident to the police. I wasn't sure how I felt about that at the time. Though my father did hit me, I didn't want him to get in trouble. Either way, living with the Stevens was the best decision. My father went to court for what he had done, and it was said that he couldn't be alone with me. Someone had to be there ass a witness, so the accident wouldn't happen again. After the first year, my father moved out of town, and I never saw him again. But it dind't matter. I had Ethan and his parents. My surrogate family. I loved them as if they were my family since the beginning. I eventually found out where my mother was buried and would visit the cemetery every month. My family started to be a little more open about her, so I had an idea as to who she was. I found out she liked to sing, that she was funny, nice and overall, just lovely. I wish i had met her. Maybe my life would've been different. Maybe things would've been better. Maybe things would've been worse. Who knows? The end. Thank you for reading.