He tried to avoid making eye contact with me so I tried to engage in conversation “Hey, I’m Lilly.â€? I say to him extending a hand. He takes the hand with a firm clasp and replies with a forced smile, “Zachâ€?.

“You okay?â€? I ask genuinely concerned.
“Yeahâ€? There was a sight pause “…no. My dad kicked me out. It’s kind of a good thing though because he and his girl friend are always drunk.â€? He replies with great honestly.

I guess he hadn’t had much interaction with people in a while.
“Can you stay with anyone, any friends or your mum?â€?
“None of my friends live around here and my mum left my dad five years ago so I haven’t seen her since.â€?

We sit and talk for hours until it starts to get dark and cold. I invited him to stay at my house. After dinner I get him set up on the couch, then say good night.