I can’t move. “Mom,” I whisper.

Her mouth falls open. “Mase. It’s really you.” She starts to move toward me, one arm outstretched, but stops herself before she actually touches me. Her eyes are glazed, unfocused, and they sweep up my frame. “I can’t believe you’re this tall. Jesus, you’re an adult.”

But I’m not an adult, and I want her to say something more than me being tall. “Mom… I found you. Finally.” My eyes are getting hot, my voice thick. I can’t believe she’s here. Right here. After all this time.

I walk toward her, but she takes a step back. “Mason, what are you doing here?”

Her tone makes me freeze again. “What do you mean? I’m here to find you,” I say. “Isn’t that obvious?”

“How did you find me?” This time her tone is unmistakable. It isn’t a happy I can’t believe you found me! It’s a You weren’t supposed to find me. My mom hasn’t only been hiding from the foster care system—she’s been hiding from me.

My insides turn to ice. This can’t be happening. She must be too surprised, or maybe this is bad timing. All she needs is some time to adjust. “I… I found someone online who knew where you were. I came to find you. I thought you needed me….” I’m light-headed, stars erupting in the corners of my vision.

She falls back against the dirty wall, her gaze on my left shoulder. “You’re supposed to be with Emma.”

My heart thumps so hard, I’m surprised it doesn’t burst out of my chest. “You knew where I was? This whole time?” I manage a shuddery breath. There has to be an explanation for this. Something that will make my mom knowing where I was okay. “Mom, I’ve been looking for you for so long. No one would tell me where you were. Why didn’t you contact me?”

She’s quiet for a long time. “You need to go back to Salem, okay? Go back with Emma. I need that.”

“What?” The ground is tilting out from under me, and my vision blurs. She has to be joking. Why would she say that? “But, Mom, I found you. We can be together now—”

“No. Mase—” She holds up her hand. “I can’t. You have to go.”

No. No no no. I stare at her in disbelief, the seconds passing through me like tiny knives. This can’t be happening. This must be a nightmare, or she’s high and she doesn’t know what she’s saying. She doesn’t want me to leave. All she needs is time.

I step forward and she instantly recoils. An action I have to ignore if I’m going to remain intact. “Mom, let’s go inside and—”