Mom,

I spent last night in the hospital. I decided it was best for me to move in with dad. I will no longer take any form of abuse from you. If you decide you want to be a real parent, my phone is on. Otherwise, you can walk away, and you'll never have to deal with me again. Please, get sober and get help.

Love
Charlotte

I hung the note on the fridge and took one last look at the apartment and the life I was leaving behind.

Dr. Stone discharged me about two hours after our conversation. Liam and Lauren came over to pack up what little belongings I had. There was a bed and dresser for me at my dad's, so I didn't have to worry about moving anything heavy. Just boxes with clothes and a few other things.

"I'm proud of you." Liam whispered as he wrapped his arms around me from behind.

Proud? Of what? I almost killed myself, got myself raped, and it took a hospital stay before I finally got the courage to leave my mom behind. Despite my thoughts, I smiled and said "Thank you."

I set my keys to the apartment on the counter and closed the door for the last time.

When we got to my dad's, it was already 10 pm. I told Lauren she should go home. Liam and I could handle moving a few boxes up a flight of stairs. Moving out was much worse since we had to haul them down from the third floor, especially since I still felt like crap.

"Welcome home!" My dad said when I opened the door. His arms were wide open, and he pulled me in for a hug. I slung my free arm around him, the other held a small box. "Lindsey is at her friend's house, and Kim is sleeping already, but I'm here to help!"

"We just have a few boxes. I think we'll be okay." I forced a smile. His enthusiasm made me uncomfortable, and I wondered what I just got myself into.

"Alright, I should head out." Liam said thirty minutes later after our last trip of boxes.

"Can we talk first?" I asked.

"Of course." He sat down on my new bad. It wasn't really new. It had been there for 14 years, but I had barely slept in it.

I sat next to him. "Thank you for everything you've done for me. You really have no idea how much you've helped me the past two months."

"I'm glad I can help. I would do anything for you." He laid his hand over mine.

I let out a deep sigh. "That's the problem Liam. I clearly need to work on myself. A lot. And I don't want to hold you back."

"You don't hold me back." Panic filled his eyes.

"Liam, you and I both know that's not true. You're only 18. You shouldn't have to take care of another person. Believe me, I know what that's like, and it's not a fair responsibility. I meant it when I said I love you. Because Liam, I do love you. I want you to know that, but I need to learn to love myself before I can pull anyone else into this mess of a life."

"I love you too, Charlie." He kissed my forehead before continuing. "Let me love you."

I sighed and looked at his sad eyes. I wanted nothing more than to be loved by Liam. However, I knew it wasn't fair to him. "I can't. I need to fix myself."

After a few moments, he nodded in agreement. "Just let me have you for one more night." He asked.

I wasn't sure how my dad would feel about Liam spending the night, especially on my first night there. I wanted to start off right with him, but I also wanted one more night with the boy who saved my life.

Without saying anything, I turned on my tv and laid back in my bed. Liam followed.

"Thank you." I whispered to him. "For everything."

It seemed as though things were finally falling into place for me, despite the events over the past few days. I still had a long journey, but it was one I was willing to take. I finally had a safe home, Owen had a family who loved him, and I didn't have to be a teenage mother anymore.

I knew it would take years for me to work through the trauma with my mom and Ryan in counseling, but I remained hopeful for everything I had in front of me.

Including the hazel eyed boy next to me who came out of nowhere and changed my life for the better.