1. Chapter One (1/2)

chapter oneabby couldn't take it any longer. she had to get out. another beating

would be coming as soon as her father stepped through the door, and abby

knew that she wouldn't be able to handle it. it was just a matter of time before social services stepped into the

picture, before abby was sent to a foster home to live with complete

strangers. she knew that once she got into the foster system, there was no

getting out. there were just as many bad foster parents as there were good

ones, and abby didn't want to risk it.she had no place to go, really. she had no aunts or uncles. her

grandparents from both sides of her family were dead. so was her mother,

the only person or creature that had ever truly cared for her. the only

one abby had truly cared for, as well.abby didn't have a choice though. she had to get out.under her bed in the attic, abby found her trunk. she plopped it down on

the bed, letting it fall open. after she had grabbed some clothes and

threw them into the trunk, she closed it and ran for the door, but---abby looked behind her, scanning her room one last time. then, she saw

it. the dark-blue violin case. her mother had been teaching her to play

since she was old enough to hold a full-sized one. even though it was

extra weight to lug around, abby couldn't leave it behind. it had been so

important to her . . . and her mother.she reached out for it and was about to slide her hand into the handle