i’m sitting at my dining room table, facing into the kitchen away from the front door, doing math homework. its cloudy outside. it’s april. i have been living with my moms parents for about a year now, because my parents are not stable. my mom has been in rehab for a while, i don’t remember when she left, and i haven’t seen my dad in a long time. i rode the bus home from school today  and i’m partially waiting for my grandma to come home from work. i listen very carefully as i hear the garage door open and the car pull in. shes home. i’m going to continue doing my homework so that she knows i’m a good student. i hear footsteps up the porch steps. i look behind me and see two figures through the frosted glass window of the storm door, one that looks like grandma and one in a red sweatshirt that reminds me of one my mom has. i’m confused and i don’t know who that is. my grandma walks in, and the other person is wearing the exact sweatshirt i was thinking of. it’s my mom. i feel a rush of excitement and comfort. im shaking and i run towards her and she picks me up as i cry into her shoulder. we stand here by the front door for what i hope is forever. don’t leave ever again.