Bella:

Sometimes, when I tried to look back at where my problems started, I could only pin it on the fact that I got older. I missed being five, when all I cared about was what to eat, what to watch, or if my dad would play with me. Life was glorious, and I didn't have to fight with my father. He was my pillar and foundation, but as I grew up, the cracks kept intensifying, and now I doubted it could ever be repaired.

As we handed in our papers to Ms. Polly, I couldn't get over ...