Everybody I left Behind

A breath of relief leaves my lips as I walk into what I'm about to call our new home. It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders and honestly? It feels safe, warm, and mine. Yes, it's a rental, but it is mine. One part of me is relieved, happy, and content, while the other part is wondering what in the world is wrong with me. What am I doing? I took my eight-year-old son and moved us into a rental home in a township we haven't been in for over five years. I swore I would never come back here, but then, life happened. I lost my job after an altercation with my boss, and the savings I had wouldn't have gotten us anywhere in the city. At least here, I know I have backup for at least six months, which should be long enough to find a job or something. "Are we going to live here?" he asks, looking at me with those big brown eyes of his. He has this thing where he tilts his head to the side a little when he's curious about something, and I find that awfully cute. "Yes, baby. This is going to be our home for now," I tell him with a small smile. He looks around and shakes his little head. "There's no furniture," he says with a laugh. "No, there isn't," I tell him. "For now, though. Mommy will make a plan," I explain further. It's nothing fancy, just an RDP house. Two bedrooms, a bathroom with a tub, and an open-plan kitchen and lounge area. It's enough for me. For us. He gets settled in his small bedroom while I order some takeaways, which arrive forty minutes later. We set our food on the floor to eat, chat, and fool around. I tuck him into the small sponge mattress and kiss him goodnight before settling down in my own room. Before I know it, I'm drifting off to sleep... --- Morning comes sooner than I expected, and we prepare for the day. He starts school nearby, and I have to figure out furniture and maybe groceries if I get the chance. I bathe him and dress him in his new uniform. While he has some leftover pizza, I take a quick bath and put on comfy track pants, a loose top, and some sneakers. I comb out my afro and walk out. I have so much to do, and I'd like to be as comfortable as possible while I run around. Luckily, the school is a ten-minute walk from our house, so it doesn't take very long for us to get there. The guard shows us to his new class, and we walk over and wait for his new class teacher. "Hi! You must be my new learner, Ethan. How are you today?" A man speaks behind me. I turn around and freeze for a split second before composing myself. "Good morning," I start. "Yes, this is Ethan, and I'm—" "Amara, I know. Remember me?"