Suddenly, ten placements looked completely different.
Once, when a foster mother started discussing permanent guardianship, he packed his bags before she could finish.
“Did every family reject you?”
Luke shook his head.
“How many did you push away?”
“I don’t know.”
“Luke.”
“Because leaving hurts less when you decide when it happens.”
“Most.”
Once, when a foster mother started discussing permanent guardianship, he packed his bags before she could finish.
“I wanted to leave first.”
“Why?”
“Because leaving hurts less when you decide when it happens.”
Then he said the part that broke me.
I had to look away.
Then he said the part that broke me.
“I was going to do it to you.”
I turned back.
“What?”
Despite everything, I almost laughed.
“When I moved in, I had a plan. Give it a couple months. Then start acting different.”
