I’m 15, turning 16 in April, and I’ve been researching the legal requirements for emancipation. If you’re wondering what led me to this point, it all comes down to my father.

My dad, 40, is bipolar and narcissistic. When I was nine, his drinking was out of control. He became violent, hitting my mother, and would go through these cycles where he’d threaten to die himself claiming that no one loved him. Then, for a few months, he’d be fine—until the cycle started all over again.

In recent years, he’s calmed down on the drinking, but that hasn’t made things easier. Now, instead of his fists, he uses his words. He calls me names—whore, slut, little bitch—all because I wear shorts to practice, which apparently goes against his rules. He yells often, his words sharp and cruel, cutting deeper than he probably realizes.

The most recent fight started when he asked me to come outside and talk. I already knew where this was going. He’s never liked his adoptive grandmother—my grandmother—the woman I call Mom around others. She’s the one who raised me, shielding me from his worst moments, and I love her with all my heart. She is kind, generous, and selfless, always willing to help others, even those who don’t deserve it. But my dad sees it differently.

As we sat outside, he started talking about her, spewing the same tired accusations. She spoils you. She gives you whatever you want. She lets you do whatever you please. His words felt like needles pressing into my chest, and before I knew it, my eyes started to sting with tears. It hurt hearing him talk about her like that, as if she were some villain rather than the one person who had always been there for me.

Then, he dragged my mother into it. He called her outside and tried to pit her against me, bringing up something irrelevant—something we had already resolved. His tactic worked. My mom got upset, and their argument escalated quickly.

That’s when he said it.

“If my own daughter is gonna take the side of some huffy bitch, then she is no longer mine nor allowed in my house.”

His words hit me like a slap. My heart pounded in my chest as I stood up, grabbed my glasses, my phone, and my shoes, and walked straight out the front door.

I made it to the driveway when I heard someone call my name. Panic surged through me—I thought it was him. Without thinking, I screamed No! and broke into a sprint, running as fast as I could toward my grandmother’s house.

Now, I keep asking myself: Was I wrong to take her side?

He claims she’s never liked him, but I can’t believe that. She’s the kind of person who would jump through hoops for anyone, even those who have treated her badly. That’s just who she is. And yet, here I am, caught between the truth I know and the version of it he wants me to believe.

I’ve been thinking about whether or not I should read more into his side. AITA? Sorry if it sounds to descriptive, I wanted everything I felt to be properly communicated :)

For everyone getting mad about how I used ai to help with my grammar, don’t please. I am 15, have horrible grammar and needed help. Every bit of information in the post is completely true. Nothing is over dramatized.

If you want what I originally wrote have fun reading it 😭

So I 15f turn 16 in April. I’ve been going through all the legal requirements on how to be emancipated. You’re probably wondering what prompted this. My dad 40(m) is BP and narcissistic. When I was 9 he had a horrible issue with drinking. He became violent and would hit my mother. He go about the whole I’m gonna off myself because no one loves me thing and then be fine for a few months. With in the last few years he’s calmed down on the drinking. Now he’s more about running his mouth and calling me names( whore, slut, little bitch, etc) because me wearing shorts to practice is against his rules. He yells quite frequently and says very hurtful things. Recently we had a fight. He wanted me to come sit out side with him and talk. He’s never liken his adopted grandma(who I refer to as mom around others. She raised me, sheltering me away from all he’s done) I love her with all my heart. She is kind and generous. His argument is that I’m spoiled, given everything I want and do whatever I want when I’m with her. As he was talking badly about her I started crying a little because it hurt me deeply. He then told my mom to come out side and he tried to put her against me by bringing up something irrelevant that we had already resolved. She got mad and then he said “if my own daughter is gonna take the side of some huffy bitch, then she is no longer mine nor aloud in my house.” (Paraphrasing as I was very emotional) the two of them started to argue and I got up grabbed my glasses, phone and shoes then walked out the front door. I got to our driveway and then heard someone calling my name. I screamed no as I thought it was my dad and started sprinting to my grandmothers house(we live on the same property) was I wrong to take my grandmothers side? He claims she never liked him but I can’t see her as that person as she will jump through hoops for ANYBODY even if they’ve treated her badly.