Ms. Viola says she’s a social worker. I don’t know what that means. She is trying to get me in trouble. She asks when I last saw my mom and I lie. I tell her I don’t know, but I do. It was five days ago.

Ms. Viola says she’s going to take me to stay with some really nice people for a little bit. I don’t want to go and I cry. I tell them I can take care of myself, but they don’t listen. I wish my mom was here. She’d tell them I’ve been a good boy. I’m always a good boy.

I’m in a strange house full of other kids in a neighborhood I don’t know. The place smells like old socks and window cleaner. The kids are loud and some are mean. I stay awake wondering how Mom will find me. I’m scared I’ll never see her again and it’s all my fault. I should’ve lied. I hate it here. I want to go home. I want my mom.

What if she never comes back?

‘Come here, my sweet boy,’ Mom calls to me.

I run into her arms.

‘I missed you so much, baby. I love you. I’m never leaving you again.’

I want to believe her. She smells like sweat and cigarettes. It reminds me of home. The other kids told me she doesn’t love me anymore. That she doesn’t want me. I don’t want to believe them. I want my mom to love me. I’ll try harder. I’ll be so good she’ll never leave again.

When I open my eyes, I can almost smell the cigarettes and disappointment. You can’t count on anyone in this life. My past haunts my dreams, but Elizabeth torments my days. I should’ve known better. It’s good Elizabeth walked away from me. We’re both delusional if we think we’re in love. It wasn’t real. None of it was real. I don’t matter to her any more than some stupid game.

And she doesn’t matter to me.

It’s time to get back to my life, what’s really important. I’ve got one more semester before I graduate. I’ve got applications to submit to MBA programs and scholarships to apply for.