The Endless Path
Trey Branom Dylan
©
Copyright 2018 by Trey Branom Dylan
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Everyone
grows up different, some having it worse than others and yes this was
my life. Having parents with stability, is all I ever wanted. Luck
did not go in my favor, as my parents were worthless. I had dreams I
needed to fulfill, but they were holding me back. I had been with
this dysfunctional household for eight years now. This is all I ever
knew, and it was starting to impact me as a person and the human I
wanted to become.
Even
though my name was Dylan, no one seemed to have the desire to
discover my name. Poor boy, and nerd became my reputation rather than
Dylan. I was eight years old, and struggling to find friends as every
child was. I didn’t have the wealth to obtain materialistic
items to make me fit in with others. My one pair of jeans, and my
raggedy purple jacket from the Goodwill is all I had. It was beyond
embarrassing to wear the same cloths seven days a week.
“
Can
I get some new clothes mom?”
My
mom said,
“No
your father needs money for medication”.
I
knew what medication meant. As my mom lays there, severely
intoxicated and high on who knows what, I was trying to get new
clothes.
As
I got older I realized how different I was from everyone else.
Wearing Nike clothes seemed to make you friends. I was stuck with
cheap walmart shoes that were once white, but now closer to black. I
had those shoes for almost 3 years, so they did not fit, but my mom
did not care as long as she had her bottle. After a day of being at
school, my feet would be throbbing in blisters. I had one friend
named Garrett. His mom knew my family situation, so I was always
welcomed in there family. Garrett's mom would buy me the things I
needed. On holidays my parents refused to buy me gifts, because the
bottle and medication was their priority. Garrett's mom would spare a
gift for me, and would pass down Garrett’s old clothes knowing
my desperate need. I was beyond excited to not wear something
different, than my usual rags. Im forever grateful for the kindness
this women provided for me.
Garrett
and his family shined a light into my life. They gave me hope, and
possibilities. My worthless parents could care less where I was at,
nor if I made it home from school. I was fed everyday by Garrett's
family, as my parents spent all there money on drugs, and substances
for themselves. If it wasn't for Garrett's family, i'm not sure if I
would be alive today. I can’t express the amount of gratitude
and appreciation I have for that family.
My
normal schedule was walking to school, then going back to Garrett's
house for dinner. Garrett's mom would then drive me home, so I didn't
have to walk in the dark. One day, as soon as I walked into my
classroom I was called into the office. When I arrived at the office,
I was approached by a Police officer, and a short women dressed very
appropriate.
“Hi
Dylan my name is Officer Sharp, and this is Mandy your case
worker”.
I
said, “Case
worker? Am I in trouble?”
Officer
said,“No
Dylan you're not in trouble. We have been notified about your living
conditions, and would like to ask you some questions if that's okay”.
As
the officer questioned me about my life, I was scared to what it was
leading too. Someone had reported my parents for mistreating me. I
hated living with my parents, but I never thought as far as leaving
them.
“Dylan
your gonna stay with Mandy a while till we can find you a permanent
home”.
I
was now in a program called foster care. It was designed for kids
like me to have a place to live, until they were adopted. At the time
I had no idea what I was about to go through. I was scared for my
life and losing my friend. My life was about to change, and I was
uncertain if it would be for the good or not. I was fully aware my
parents weren’t doing there job to provide for me, but I never
thought I would be getting removed from my home.
The
stress and anxiety of leaving my past behind, haunted me. I knew life
wasn’t great, but I was content. Living with foster care had
advantages as well as the disadvantage. I was now living with other
kids like me, going through similar situations as I was. The kids
around me weren’t like Garrett. They were depressed and had
mental issues. Having anger issues was a common result for lots of
these kids, as I witnessed multiple physical fights. You don't know
what you have until it's gone. Garrett was my best friend, and now
that I didn’t have his or his family’s support, I was
lost for words. I was more lost than a dog on a lonely
street.
I
was in foster care for approximately six months before things started
to change. It was now the month of February, and my birthday was on
the twelth. I had began to lose all hope, as living here was
terrible. Sleeping in the same room as fifteen other kids, on a cold
bunk bed was very soul taking. I began to realize the definition of
depression the longer I remained at this facility. Something had to
change, and I was losing hope. Why did God do this to me? Why was I
placed in a dysfunctional household? These are questions I continued
to ask myself, as I discovered everything had to happen for a
reason.
It
was now my birthday, and was preparing for the worst birthday in my
life yet.
“How
have you been, Dylan?” Mandy said.
“I've
been okay”
“We
have someone that would like to see you.”
My
stomach dropped, as I had no idea what to expect. I followed my case
worker into a very secluded room to see the person here to see me. As
I entered the room, I seen Garrett and his whole family sitting at a
table with some paperwork. Garrett's mom gave me a big hug, and she
said,
“Would
you like to be a part of our family?”
This
brought a tear to my eye, as I realized who was my family was all
along.
Things
were now different for me, as I realized I had family with stability,
and provided me with love all along. Garrett's mom turned my parents
into social services to help me. She knew I deserved a better
household then them. Everything happens for a reason, and it took all
these years for me to understand that. I know I was just a kid, but I
understood more than the average person my age. Growing up around
dysfunction makes you idolize, and appreciate the good things around
you that much more. Coming from nothing, makes a person understand
what it’s like to struggle. It also makes a person appreciate
the good things life has to offer, and shows you how not to take
advantage of the things you have.
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