Chapter 1

I can't believe this is happening, how can some just up and leave without a word. It's time for rent to be paid and Stephanie took everything she could and vanished. I've tried calling her phone and it has been disconnected or changed. At this point I don't know which. I was at work until about 2 hours ago when I came home and found the apartment cleared out. She took everything including the food in the refrigerator and cabinets.

If I ever find her, I'm going to kill her. I'm talking to my Aunt Carolyn on the phone, im crying and pacing because at this point I have no idea what to do.

Calm down Dawn, everything will be alright, I'll help with the other half of rent this month but you will need to look for someone trustworthy to fill that empty room. You can't afford that place on your own or you will starve to death.

I laugh because I know my aunt is just trying to de-escalate the situation. Aunt Carolyn would never let me starve, she promised my mom before she passed that she would take care of me and has been there for me every since. "Why would she do this?", I cry. "I don't know sweetheart, but what matters is not why she did it but how you react to the situation that you are now in". For now Dawn don't worry about anything else, I have this month but you do have work to do.