Maryland, U.S.A
It was the year 2006, and Atlas was just twelve years old – youthful, naive, and unaware of the complexities of the world. She found herself crying yet again, tears streaming down her face as her mother was nowhere to be found since she had always had this fear of being abandoned, knowing that her own father had died and left her as well. She had grown accustomed to fear of abandonment. Days like this were becoming all too common, with her mother often scolding her for not having dinner ready by the time she stumbled home after eleven in the evening, her whereabouts always shrouded in mystery.
“Come on, stop crying already.” Zane, her childhood friend, was once again comforting her and wiping her tears.
Atlas continued to cry, her tears staining her cheeks as Zane gently
