The night air is cold, and I am alone.

Wind tosses my hair, and blows right through my thin jacket, but I’m too numb to care. I know I’ve been here before. The chain links of the swing press into my hands, leaving deep red patterns, patterns that I can’t feel. I’ve been here before, but that doesn’t matter.

What matters is what happened. What matters is that, despite everything, I am alone. She was my mother, my mommy, the one who gave me life. I thought she would understand, comfort me even. All I really wanted was to be held. But I guess I’m too old for love.

The darkness is punctuated only by streetlamps, until the beam of a flashlight is shone onto me. “Hey! Girl!” I shield my eyes, I want to run but my feet are locked into place, betraying me. I can see the gold badge, the eyes searching me, realizing who I am.

His voice softens. “Come on. I’ve gotta get you home.” And he pulls me, the runaway girl, into his police car. Heading towards a house that isn’t home.

The night air is cold, and I am alone.