SIX

Instead of being grateful that I had somehow been given a third chance, I did the opposite. I went into a deep depression and did many things that I'm ashamed of. I demanded my own room. Bubbles was terribly hurt by that and wouldn't talk to me for a week. I couldn't have cared less. I criticized her and Buttercup for the tiniest little things and I was disrespectful to Professor and just about everybody, basically. I hated school and refused to go. Ms. Keane wasn't our teacher anymore, but I still saw her every day; and I couldn't bear seeing the woman who I had loved as my Mom stand and stare at me, shaking her head sadly at my 'attitude'. Several monster fights went badly and some crooks got away with their crimes, due to my own arrogance and the tensions between us. I knew my sisters, and Townsville, would be better off without me. I quit the Powerpuff Girls.

I needed answers and there was nobody who could give them to me. Professor would come into my room and try to find out what my problem was, but I wouldn't, I couldn't tell him. He was very patient and understanding, but I wouldn't let him in. All the truth would tell him is that I had gone insane. In fact, I did have to go see a child psychologist. I sat there, for three whole sessions, not saying a word. I just made faces at the doctor. On the last visit, I wet my pants on purpose, all over his nice expensive leather couch. I guess you could say I was acting out.

I lost interest in everything, and spent practically all my time in my room, crying myself to sleep every night. I mourned the loss of my mother and my baby brother, who I never even got the chance to meet. They never existed to anyone in this world but they were real, and now they were gone forever. Who would understand THAT? The only person who knew the events of my second life was me. I couldn't see the point in going through this charade of life all over again, only to have everything I cherished torn from me one more time. If it happened twice, it might happen again. I felt so alone that I believed being alone was the only answer. I gathered together a few things and then sat down to write a letter.

I must have stopped and started a dozen times, leaving a pile of crumpled pages in the wastebasket along with a mound of wet tissues. I could barely see the paper through my tears as I tried again.

To My Dear Family

I am so sorry for everything I've put you through and I have to make it stop. Something terrible is happening to me and you wouldn't understand even if I could find a way to explain it. The only thing is for me to leave, to be alone until I can find my own answers. Please don't try to look for me. If you do, I will only run, and keep running until I find peace.

Please believe me when I say I never meant to hurt you. I would never do this unless I had to and I promise that when I find what I'm looking for I will come home. If I never see you again in this life, please know that I love you more than anything in the world. Funny way of showing it, huh? It's just that no one can help me. I have to do this alone.

P.S. To my sisters: You can and you must go on without me. The world needs you.

Blossom

Duh, like they needed ME to tell them that. They'd already been doing it for over a month. And I prayed they were still doing it in the two worlds I'd left behind.

I waited until night when they were all asleep. I picked up my few possessions, which were a couple changes of clothes, an earlier version of you, Dear Diary; a box of pencils, a small solar powered flashlight and what little allowance money I had saved. It wasn't much and I knew I would have to live by my wits. I wasn't scared at all, like I should have been if I had any sense; my mind was on only one thing. I went to my jewelry box and got my necklace with the locket on it. Inside was a miniature portrait of all of us, smiling. I put it around my neck and swore never to take it off. Then I placed the folded letter on my neatly made bed, took one last look around my home, peeked in through my tears at my sleeping sisters and Professor, and quietly began my quest.