After I wake up, I immediately drive Duncan to his new senior care center. He can't drive himself. I don't know how to say goodbye, but I tell him I'll visit once a week. After that, I go for I drive in the country until I don't know where I am anymore. I need some time to compose my thoughts. I don't know to tell Sarah my life is in the hands of Social Services. Maybe I can get away with being on my own until the end of the school year and I join the Navy. I find where I am and go back to the farm. It's for sale. I take my key out of my pocket and make my way through the house. I haven't noticed so much of the detail since I moved in. It's a classic big, Brown farmhouse. Straight out of a storybook. I'm met by so many memories it's overwhelming. I can't handle it. I leave the house and go to the stables. I pick out my favorite horse. A black stallion. I'm an expert at riding horses. I ride until dark. I'll never forget this place. I put out my phone type Sarah's number from memory. My thumb lingers over the call button a little before I pull myself together and press it.

     "Well, we have to do something about this," Sarah's voice comes clear through my phone. I just explained to her my situation. I share with her my idea of avoiding Social Services until the end of the school year a couple months away and then my birthday soon after so I can live on my own. "This won't work for me Alex. You won't live on your own, you'll run away to the Navy. You don't even have a place to stay a night, let alone four months. I mean you could stay here once a month without my parents getting suspicious but that's not enough." " I can figure it out, " I reply trying to keep my uncertainty out of my voice. "We're a couple, Alex. We work together. Drop the one man army thing and ask for help once and a while. "