Mike's POV

I stared at all of the machinery laying on the large wooden table in our driveway. They all had price stickers on them, and random people kept on driving up to buy them. Dad was having a garage sale, and he didn't seem to happy about it. My brother, Jason, and I were sitting in the sun by the fence, not understanding what was happening. Mom was in the house locked in her room. I was too scared to ask dad why he was selling all of his stuff. But the night before I couldn't sleep because they were screaming at each other about me and Jason; how we were too young to deal with "alcohol" or something. It scared me... but I never knew that I wouldn't see dad for another seven years.

Dad didn't even say goodbye before leaving. Mom tried shrugging it off, but she never smiled. Jason cried, though he was eight and probably knew by now what was happening. Then for four years mom started dating different guys that took her time away from Jason and I. Jason didn't hang around me because he had other friends and I was "a waste of his time". So I stayed in my room and listened to my radio. That's all I ever did. I never talked to anyone. Nor did anyone talk to me.

Pretty soon Jason and I got annoyed with the guys that mom were dating. They were always mean to us, and they kept her away from us. We tried telling her that we didn't like them, but she couldn't care less what we thought. I still remember what she told us:

"The men I date are for me. None of them are there for you two."

I had to deal with it. Mom drank beer and smoked at least two packs a day, and I didn't realize how bad it was until everytime she kissed me before bed, her breath rieked of beer and smoke. I was scared that she would get drunk one night and do something really stupid to harm Jason and I. Jason didn't care, though. So, at age ten, I was cutting my wrists. Then, one day, mom brought home a guy that would bring my hate and depression to a whole new level.