The No Good Adam Hartz

It's December 27, 2022, at 10:30 in the morning. I'm lyingin bed alone. Thinking about her. How I could never get close enough. How I don't want to hurt her. But if that is true, why do I dream of it at night when I'm deep in my sleep? I can't let what happened back in Warlington, happen here. It's not me. It can't happen again. Then there was a knock at my apartment door. "Adam, you up?" a girl asked, pounding on the door. "Come on Adam, we need to talk." I got up out of bed and answered the door to see my neighbor's daughter crying. Tears coming down 1 by 1 "You okay" I asked, knowing she wasn't I pulled her into a hug, patting her back gently. It takes a full 20 minutes to pull herself together. A full 20 minutes of her sitting there crying. "Could my day get any worse?" I thought to myself. "My dad is such a jerk. I hate him." She said angrily "Can I ask what happened?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. She flashed me a look, a very concerning look, making me regret even asking her that. "He left again. Then he starts a new family. Forgets all about his actual family." This doesn't really feel like the conversation I should be having with her right now. Something she should be complaining about to a therapist. Not me "I don't think he forgot about you." I said, trying not to sound irritated about this conversation. "Are you serious? Of course, he did. Today is my 15th birthday. He didn't even stop by, send a card, or text me "Happy Birthday". Nothing. Worse father ever" I truly don't need this right now. This man, though, isn't good for her or her mother. I usually hear Laura sneaking him in late, late at night. Sneaking around like a couple of teenagers. "I doubt that he forgot. Maybe he is busy or something". She didn't believe me. "You wouldn't mind if I spent the night here, would you?" She asked. Why am I actually considering her staying here? No, she has to go home, talk things over with her mom. Celebrate her birthday. 'No you can't. Come on, go back to your place. Talk things over with your mom. Celebrate your `14th birthday. " I smiled "