Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-34328376-20180216024759

The Man in the Alley

'''Hello. I’m going to tell you about an event that changed the way I view life forever. I think it happened in the mid-2000s.'''

'''One day, while I was heading home from school, I saw someone in the alleyway. He was living in a box. His clothes were tattered and torn. He was covered in soot. He was begging for change. I felt bad, so I took a few quarters I had in my pocket and gave them to him. Just then, a man saw me helping him and began yelling at me. He kept saying how this guy whom I had helped was “a monster” and “a piece of crap.”'''

'''After he left, I crawled over next to the guy. He said his name was Parker. He went on tell me about how he’d ended up in this state. Here is what he said.'''

'''“I was born somewhere here in California. That man was my father. He was always extremely abusive towards me. When I was 12, he disowned me. He yelled at how I’d ruined his life. I wasn’t sure why he hated me so much. Come to think of it, I still don’t. Anyways, I ended up living here in the alleyways. Any time someone tried to get me back on my feet, my father would always shut me down and I would be left behind. I actually attempted suicide a couple times. Then I met you. Can I rent a room at your place?”'''

'''I called my mom to see if it was okay. She agreed and I helped Parker find my place. It was a simple place, but I’m sure to him, it seemed like heaven. I introduced him to my mother Diana, and my sister Ivy. He seemed to instantly fall for her. I’m sure they’d be great together, yet over time, he still seemed empty. I now knew that no matter how much you have in your life, you can still feel like you’re nothing.'''

'''On April 1st, 2008, I saw him forging a knife. I came in and asked why he was crafting the weapon. He said he wanted to get all the pain out of his life, by killing the author of his misery. I instantly knew who he was talking about. I called Ivy in to see what was going on. We talked for hours and hours. We ultimately decided to go out at night. It was time.'''

'''That night, we stood outside the door of Parker’s dad’s house. Parker knocked on the door and his dad was stunned to see him. He then started yelling, but Parker was unfazed.He then pulled out the knife and cornered his dad in the room. Parker took a deep breath and said the following.'''

'''“Father, If you couldn’t tell, you’ve made my life miserable. Physical and verbal. The abuse you’ve put me through had led us here. The living room. First time I’ve been here in years, but now it’s time for what I came here for. Unleashing all the rage I’ve built up over the years. Ending you.”'''

'''His father was speechless. Everything Parker had said was true. It took him until now to realize it. He screamed as Parker plunged the knife into his chest. All that was left was a puddle of blood. Just then, we heard police sirens. The cops came to the door. We all got sent to court. We tried to fake it as involuntary manslaughter. Nothing would work though, and Parker got a one year sentence. He wished us the best as he was shipped off. Ivy and I looked at each other. We knew what was coming.'''

'''Just last year, I was at the bar with some friends. While they were getting drunk, I noticed someone across the bar. He was sitting alone. I moved over next to him, and he recognized me. His smile told me everything. One life had been lost, yet another had begun. Parker and I talked for a while before he had to leave. Afterwards, Ivy started a phone relationship with Parker. Though he was never seen in the flesh again, This experience changed me forever.'''  