Chapter 8 In Trouble

• Marina
• Age 10
• With Julien’s hand around my own I felt like I’m home even as we left the estate. I’ve never called it home and I never want to. Julien lead me out the back door in the kitchen and over the manicured lawn. A couple of times, he looked behind him at me and grinned widely. I always smiled back even as I felt nervous. Daddy will certainly hurt Julien when he discovers I left my own birthday party with the rat, as he calls him. It’s no secret that Daddy doesn’t like me hanging around him, but I don’t care. Julien is my only friend and I won’t let Daddy bully him away.