I sit in the police car with a blanket wrapped around me. My parents confront Anthony who is now in handcuffs. I hate the way they're handling him, they don't need to fucking handcuff him.

I don't get why he had to leave - people say if you love someone, you would let them go. But aren't you supposed to fucking hold onto them?

"Easy fellas," I hear my dad faintly say from outside. I scoot over and I roll the window down so I can hear what's going on better.

"Did you come here to beat me up?" Anthony asked.

"Yes," shouted my mom.

I roll my eyes.

"Neil, teach him a lesson!"

"Go away, Katherine."

"But-"

"Go! Please, let me speak to Anthony for a moment."

Mom reluctantly leaves, evilly eyeing Anthony before storming off angrily.

"What?" Anthony asked.

"I know this may sound peculiar, but I just wanted to say thank you. Not for taking her away, and traveling her around as if she's your personal Barbie doll, or for nearly getting her killed, but for giving her someone who truly understood what she needed. All her life she's always been about responsibilities, and chores, and work, you know, all of the things you could imagine her mother and I enforced on her, causing her to lose her mind and even end up here, essentially. What I'm trying to say is, you've given our daughter something that we couldn't, someone who understands. And I thank you for that, Anthony."

Anthony looks touched for a moment, and then said, "It was my pleasure, sir. You uh," he motions to the car I'm in, "you have a beautiful, great, amazingly talented daughter over there, sir. Please notice that, and take recognition of her."

"I will," Dad said, patting Anthony's back, "I will, son."

Dad walks away.

Have I changed? I guess we'll never know. I do feel different. This did changed me, but I can't say for good or for bad. Whatever the case, it definitely has made me see the world a little differently, I'm not sure in what way, but at least now I traveled, and got the freedom I've been so desperately longing for my whole life. Freedom is seldom appreciated until it is gone. And I appreciated it every second.