“Vanessa, don’t do this.”
“I’ll contact you.”
“You can’t leave two children like luggage.”
“I said I’ll contact you.”
Then she turned.
George took one step after her.
“Mommy?”
She kept walking.
“Mommy!”
He started running.
I caught him before he reached the driveway.
Vanessa got into her car.
She didn’t look back.
George screamed as she drove away.
Jeffrey didn’t scream.
He stood inside my front window with one palm pressed against the glass.
He stayed there for almost an hour.
For weeks, I expected Vanessa to return.
I told the boys Mommy was having a hard time.
I told myself the same thing.
A week passed.
Then a month.
Then three months.
Her phone stopped working.
Emails went unanswered.
Finally, one short message arrived.
Do whatever paperwork you need. I can’t do this.
That message later helped me obtain legal guardianship.
