“Okay, I’ll pick you up Monday morning for school,” Anamae said cheerily.

“See you then,” I said. “Thanks, Anamae.”

“Always,” she said with a grin.

I spent the rest of the afternoon alone, snooping around my room like the stranger I was. After I opened every drawer, I worked my way through the clothes in my closet. I held up each outfit as if I were on a shopping spree, only I didn’t have to waste hours of my life or pay for the lovely things in my room. Whatever Desmond did for a living, he was able to provide a nice home for my mom and me. The knowledge she was so well cared for helped bolster my resolve to leave. I’d miss my mom tremendously, but I knew Desmond would be here for her.

Since I had almost a month to plan for my next trip to Judaculla, I pulled out one of the spiral notebooks and began making a list of provisions. I’d set these things aside, but where?

I grabbed my book bag, unceremoniously dumping the contents onto my bed. With exams starting next week, there’d be no reason to carry around books or other materials. At the same time, it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for me to have my book bag close at all times since it was an accessory used by every high school student.

The first things I put into my bag were over-the-counter first aid supplies—ointment for cuts, pills for headaches and stomachaches, bandages. The more I added, the angrier I got over how totally unprepared I’d been when I left Woodvine before.

Once I’d packed, I went online and ordered a solar-powered cell charger. Not that I’d have anyone to call in Judaculla, but I hoped the phone would still be useful somehow. Feeling accomplished, I hung my bag on the doorknob, then found homes for the items I’d dumped on my bed.

Cleaning up after dinner was easy. Mom and Desmond had taken pity on me and ordered large pizzas. Mom raised an eyebrow as I packed away a fourth slice.

“I can’t remember the last time I saw you eat so much.”

“Just hungry, I guess,” I said.

“It’s okay,” Mom said. “It’s good to see you with an appetite again.”

What had happened in this reality that caused me to stop eating?

“I told you everything would go back to normal,” Desmond said, taking Mom’s hand. “Once we got her off those pills.”

Mom nodded. “I’m not saying she didn’t need them, but maybe she didn’t need to be on them so long.”

I wanted to ask how long I’d been medicated, but I knew the question would seem out of place.