April 27th, 1996

"Are you ready to leave Jackson?" I grabbed my book bag and handed it to dad. He told me to turn around and not look what he is packing, for whatever he was putting inside was a surprise. I did as he told and waited. For many years, i have been waiting for this day, I'm finally 10 years old and get to go fishing with dad.

Mom died when i was born, so I never got to meet her, but when dad talks about her, she seemed like the best wife a dad could have.

"Alright, ready to go fishing son?" I grabbed my fishing pole and ventured into the woods, i heard in school that there was this girl who was in kindergarten or first grade when she disappeared in these woods, to be honest, I was a little scared, but dad said that it was a lie. Besides, people said it was last year, so I highly doubt that it's true. I sat down on a log and castes the fishing pole out.
"I'll be right back, you catch those fishes!" I nodded and kept watch at the river, waiting for the bob to go under. I heard rattles and clanks from dad probably dropping some stuff off, but then it faded into the distance. I reeled in my fishing pole and turned around, dad disappeared into the forest and left me alone. I started to cry. Why would he do this to me? Was it because of mom? Or was it because he didn't love me? I thought to myself, 'he doesn't love me. But he said he was going to be right back, maybe he forgot something and just brought everything to the car. Let's just wait.' I took deep breaths and kept a worrying look on my face while I continued to fish. Before I knew it, it was dark, and cold.

I would hear things I have never heard of before. Howls, twigs breaking, owls (or so I hope), and even screams sometimes. Now that I've been abandoned, I have to believe in the girl now. She might come to me for revenge and kill me for it. I put my fishing pole up in a tree, along with my stuff. I quickly climbed up and hit the next branch above.

This was my first night alone, and I'm crying. Dad doesn't love me. Dad hates me. He must hate me. He would've came back for me. He said he would be back but he lied. I bet he hated mom. I bet he hates me.
Negative thoughts went through my head as I finally get to sleep.

April 28th, 1996

Hey dad, I found this book and pencil you got me and stuffed into my backpack. At least I learned how to write early. I know you're not going to read this but I thought it would be nice to keep me busy. Thanks for leaving me some bait, a knife, and a lighter in my backpack. I only know how to use bait, I don't know why you would give me a lighter and a knife when I didn't know how to use them.

Oh, and thanks for the pictures of mom. I threw the ones of you into the lake because you left me here, I will never forgive what you did. I also believe in the story of the girl, I think her name is "Rosemary" or something.

April 29th, 1996

April 30th, 1996

Hey dad, while I was looking for sticks, I ran into a wolf. I fell on my butt and dropped all of the sticks, it growled at me but when the wind howled, it nuzzled me. I think it's "Rosemary's" doing. I'm glad that she's helping me.

The wolf is visiting me more and I even named him.
His name is Lucky.
He is the first dog I ever had, so I didn't know what to do.

May 1st, 1996

May 2nd, 1996

May 3rd, 1996

May 4th, 1996

May 5th, 1996

May 6th, 1996

Hey dad, I know how to hunt now. Lucky showed me his pack and they accepted me. We are like one big family now. I haven't used that lighter yet, because I know how to make my own fire. I write down the days that pass here. I know I don't write in this book everyday so there is going to be a lot of dates unmarked, but I'd like to know what day it is without forgetting.

May 7th, 1996

May 8th, 1996

May 9th, 1996

Hey dad, wow, almost 11. Just a few more days. I'm glad Lucky and his friends are here. You would just drink on my Birthday. So I never brought my friends here. I hope my tears not smudge on the words. It hurts how you left me alone, it hurts how you hate me. I know you do. So, I'm just going to write without saying "dad" in it a lot. It still hurts, but I'm a stronger person now.

May 10th, 1996

May 11th, 1996

May 12th, 1996

May 13th, 1996

May 14th, 1996

Hey, so it's it's my birthday today. Happy Birthday to me. The pack made me the leader. So I'm actually the leader of the pack in real life. It's fun to run with Lucky and his friends. I even named some of them.
Snow
Gone
Charcoal
And flare.
They're really fun to mess around with. They love it when I rub behind their ears or rub their stomachs. Sometimes we'd tackle, but won't use any teeth, of course, we'd nibble here and there, but I'm perfectly fine.
Oh, have you ever tried deer meat? It's really good. Lucky and I would usually go hunting together, we'd always race, and of course, he would win.

But I'm starting to miss talking to people like you dad.

May 15th, 1996

May 16th, 1996

Hey dad, I just saw what you called "The Miracle Of Life." It was kinda gross, but I helped a female wolf give birth to three amazing puppies. I didn't even know wolves can have 3 puppies, I thought they only had one, but i was way off. I'm glad you gave me a pencil sharpener and some more pencils, cause this one is about done. I'm just a few more words away from it dying.

May 17th, 1996

May 18th, 1996

May 19th, 1996

Great, I saw you today dad, you were hunting just when we were. We hid behind the bushes as you shot your gun. I had to cover my ears and Lucky started running towards you, thinking that you injured me. Thanks a lot. I closed my eyes and my ears were still covered, but I know what you did. I saw it with my own eyes. You gave him no mercy. You killed him without even thinking. You didn't even pray to God when he was still alive, you just shot him twice and left, leaving his corpse to rot.

May 20th, 1996

I saw you again today, you were looking for lucky weren't you? Well, remember when you left his corpse to rot? When you left, I carried him and cried dad. I cried for hours over his corpse. When I gently set him down in his grave, when the full moon was out, everyone, Snow, Charcoal, Flare, and Gone were howling. Along with every other wolf with us. Charcoal and Flare helped me cover Lucky up as we all said our goodbyes. I'd like to say thank you, thank you for killing one of my best friends.

May 21st, 1996

May 22nd, 1996

I read the note you left for me.
"Please come back home son, I didn't know what I was thinking. I'm so sorry for leaving you in these woods for so long, I have been even worse, I started to drink more, I realized, that if you came home, you could actually help me on my drinking problem. Your not to blame son."
You think that I would forgive you? That I would forget what you did?
Sorry dad, but this leader is staying with his pack.

May 23rd, 1996

Goodbye dad. I know you see me, I know your looking for me. I can hear your footsteps coming closer. You killed my whole pack, and you are saying "sorry" the whole time your looking for me. I know your drunk, and I understand, for an 11 year old, I sure act more mature than you. I can't wait to see mom again. Your looking at me, your looking right down at me, tears rolling off your cheeks and saying "I'm so sorry son" over and over again. I-