Finding an Angel Read Free

to call me. I’ll stay away whenever you want to come over. They don’t have any friends and I know it’s because they have a monster for a daughter. Please. They are great people. I’m the monster, the freak. Don’t hate them because of me. Please,” I sob.
    “Jessa,” Hunter’s mom starts.
    “Please. See, I have Miss Molly, here, and them, but they don’t have anyone. I’m okay with no one liking me… well, most days… Okay Mama says never to lie, it hurts that no one likes me, but my parents have done nothing wrong and are normal. They deserve to have moments where they can forget about me and see a life that could have been had I not been born. That’s… That’s all I came here to say…” I sob again before turning and running back to the house.
    Daddy didn’t hear me run past. I yell in the door that I’m not hungry. It wasn’t unusual for me to not eat. If I miss more than one meal, though, Mama takes me to the doctor, so I have to eat dinner. Once I hear her say okay, I run to my tree fort and hide away from everyone.
    After a few moments, I hear voices. My heart races. Was it the bad people? Then I hear my dad.
    “Beth, can you come out here please?”
    “I’ve got your lunch,” I hear Mama say. “Jessa said she wasn’t hungry… Oh, hello. What a pleasant surprise.”
    “Your daughter is very brave,” Hunter’s Dad says.
    “What do you mean?” My parents say in unison.
    They tell them all about what I went over there and said and did.
    “Jessa,” Mama cries. “Come here please.”
    Sighing, I told them I’d stay hidden. Already I’m breaking my promise. They’re going to leave if I come down.
    “I can’t,” I answer.
    “Why not,” Mama questions.
    “Because I said I’d stay hidden. You said never to break your promises. You guys have friends now. I’ll try to stop ruining it for you,” my voice cracks.
    “Is that why you didn’t want lunch?”
    “Yes,” I answer honestly.
    “Can I send up lunch to you?”
    “Yes,” I say quietly. “Mama, Daddy?”
    “What Sweetpea?” Daddy answers for both of them.
    “I love you and I’m so very sorry.”
    When they don’t answer back, I know that they are going to address it later when we are not in company, errr well they aren’t in company. Next thing I know, I hear the creaking of the ladder as its being climbed.
    Hunter’s head pops through the hole in the floor. Immediately, I scoot all the way into the far corner of the fort. He pushes the plate toward me and then enters, but sits on the opposite side as me as far from me as he can get.
    “I’m sorry I scared you last time,” Hunter says again.
    “Not your fault,” I mumble as I lean forward and take the plate. “You can’t help that I’m a freak.”
    “I wish you’d stop saying that about yourself. I like you,” he blushes.
    My mouth falls open. “You’ve seen what I’m like. Look how far you have to sit away from me because I can’t breathe when anyone’s too close. How can you like me? You’re supposed to make fun of me, hurt me, laugh at me.”
    “I’m not doing any of that. So, if that’s what you’re looking for then I guess I better go,” he says firmly.
    “You’re… You’re not?”
    “Nope, but I would like to get to know you better. Maybe we can be friends too. I don’t have any yet since it’s summer time and we are out in the country.”
    Taking a bite of my sandwich, I chew slowly. Could he be telling me the truth? Could he really want to be my friend? Could I have someone else I can talk to?
    “I’d like to try that,” I mumble.
    He grins. “Okay, friend, call me Drew. Hunter is only used when I’m in trouble,” he laughs and I can’t help but smile.
    Wow, I might have a friend. My smile grows bigger.

    “Okay, don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t want to scare or hurt you,” Drew starts.
    We’ve been spending every day together since I agreed to try and be his friend. It’s not been easy because the bad