I Won't Give Up Read Free

will always be the best part of me.
    xoxo ,
    Mom
     
    I reached down and picked up what had fallen. It was a check. A check for twenty-fi ve thousand dollars.
    Our last conversation was still fresh on my mind . I was getting ready for bed.
    “Cooper honey can you come here for a minute.” She called from the guest room that was set up downstairs. My dad moved her down there because she was getting too weak to do the stairs anymore. Before she got sick she looked like Audrey Hepburn and people told her that all the time. She was petite and had dark brown hair that almost could have passed for being black. Holly Kinley was the best mom I could imagine, she was strong and energetic. She had such a passion for life, always taking care of those around her. She was always cooking and baking for my dad and I . Her smile was my favorite. I walked into the guest room and she patted the bed next to her. Even though she was dying she was still beautiful.
    “Honey, is everything okay with you?” She asked sweetly. I wanted so badly to tell her no but I couldn’t bring myself to do that to her since she was trying so hard to be strong.
    “Yeah mom I’m fine, why?”
    “You just seem like you’re not like yourself anymore. I know this is really hard for you but it’s going to be okay, I promise.”
    “I can’t imagine life without you mom, it’s too hard.” I felt my eyes start to fill. She rubbed my arm soothingly.
    “You know there’s a quote that I really like by Galileo ‘I’ve loved the stars to fondly to be afraid of the dark.’ I’m not afraid honey. I’ll get to be with Granny and Pawpaw and I’ll watch over you always. I know it’s hard because it’s unknown but life goes on and you have a lot of life to live yet, you’re going to make me proud.” She looked at me with a sad smile and I could tell she was thinking about all the things she would be missing out on, graduations, my wedding, and grandchildren . “I love you Cooper, you’re a part of me, the best part.”
    “I love you too mom, so much.” We hugged and we cried. That was our good-bye.
     
    The morning after the funeral I made up my mind on what I wanted to do. I went to the Ducati dealership and bought my motorcycle. I packed a backpack said bye to my dad and hea ded on a road trip to anywhere.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
       
     
    CHAPTER ONE
    All-American Nightmare
     
    “Fio na wake up!” My brother Luke yelled, banging on my bedroom door.
    I pulled my comforter over my face. I was so exhausted there was no way in hell I was opening my eyes yet . I felt like a freight train hit me and a marching band was parading around my head . I didn’t remember much of last night , or the night before.. . My d rinking too much had been a recurring thing lately . I like d the being numb, not having to feel . I know it’s not going to matter in the long run but it’s good enough for now . For me t oday was just a nother day waking up only to realize my nightmare was still a reality too bad school doesn’t feel the same way .
    It all started at the beginning of this summer. T hings in my family had always been stor ybook like, w e had the nice house, fancy cars; we were a prestigious, well-respected family . My parents Levi and Gabby Prescott were high school sweethearts. The prom king and queen of Prescott, Tennessee, the captain of the football team and captain of the cheer squad as about American pie as you can get. Yes, the town is named after my dad’s family and unfortunately everyone around here knows it and treats us like celebrities . I h ad always been a daddy’s girl, h e was always around, spent time with us and doted on my mom’s every wish. E verything was perfect up until two month s ago… Then she came along and it changed everything. This is when my path of self destruction started.
    Right before the end of the school year she moved to town. Ms. Gigi Cipriani, just the name