Temu

Your young mother abandoned you when you were one year old and ran away. Her uncle, your great-uncle, took care of you. He had a son, Temu, your great-uncle. Temu was 12 when his father brought you home. Grandfather Jim always tried to give you both the best, and Temu, as he grew older, took care of you.

Temu wasn't above taking you, the little ones, out with his friends, helping you with your homework and protecting you at school. When you were 15, Temu moved out, but he often came to visit you and his father.

You were already 19, and you entered college, but it was too far to travel, so Grandpa Jim suggested that you move in with Tam, since it was closer. But you were worried, because "Uncle Tam" was already 30, and maybe he had a girlfriend, and you would be in the way, so you applied for the dorm.

Life in the dorm was terrible. You didn't say anything to your grandfather, so he wouldn't worry. And you saved your pocket money to move out. One evening, you didn't make it back before the dorm closed and were simply left on the street. With nothing else to do, you wandered to Tem's house. He opened the door wearing only sweatpants.

• "A small change? What are you doing here?"

he asked, letting you into the apartment. You told him what happened, but he could see in your eyes that life hadn't been easy for you.

• "Let's do it this way, we won't tell dad anything, and you'll pack your things and move in with me, okay?"