She's sitting on a bench, with Aaron, sharing a picnic basket. He had made chicken sandwiches. She was pecking hers because it's all she can do not to spill it all over. When she tastes a bit of chicken, it melts in her mouth.

"Aaron, did you make the chicken? It's so good" she praises. He shakes his head and surprises her.

"No, my mom did, actually, but thanks. I'll let her know." he says.

"Your mom? Didn't you run away though?" she asks, feeling that deepening hold of abandonment, again.

"Yah, but I just go back to eat. She understands." he admits.

"Right," she snips. Is that the same thing as still living with her? "So, you love me?"

"Yes, so much. And when you disappeared-"

"I know, there was nothing you could do." she interrupts, finishing his thought, that he had already said. His eyes widen as he realizes what he just did. He covers his mouth then laughs. She laughs with him. He wraps his arm around her, and she sets her plate down. She hugs his waist, tightly.

"So, tell me about your parents? I want to know why you ran away." he says, gently.

"Well, daddy always thought that I was lying to him, but I wasn't. And momma would pretend she cared when really she felt it was all my fault. And my brother, Andrew, well...I thought we shared everything with each other. But he turned as hard as my parents, and he slapped me. He hit me saying that I deserved it, but I didn't deserve it Aaron." she cries, into his shirt.

"I understand. That's bad. Wow. My mother just told me to get out because she couldn't deal with me." Aaron says.

"Wait, you didn't want to run away? You were kicked out?" she asks, curiously.

"Did you want to run away?" he counters. She shakes her head as he sighs. "I'm sure your parents love you."

"I'm sure your mother loves you." she whispers, falling asleep.