"Your parents seem like really nice people," said Lincoln to Max as they headed for Lincoln's assigned room. "Did something happen that brought you here?"

"I ran away from school once," said Max, looking down. "One time at recess, a bully chased me and I hid behind the teacher on duty. The bully got really angry and I covered my ears when he started shouting. I don't know exactly what he was saying, and I didn't wish to find out, but I think he threatened me because he got sent home early. The next day..."

"There he is!" said the bully, pointing at Max. The kids at recess stopped what they were doing and all began to chase after Max. The poor boy's skin paled and he ran off the school grounds altogether and took off for home. He could still hear the sounds of the angry mob in his head.

"I wasn't running away," said Max. "I was running for my life. When I got home, the school called my parents and they told me that what happened was different than what I saw. The bully was there and he had chased me again, but the other kids at recess were actually yelling at him to stop." Lincoln's eyes widened, knowing that Max's mind in his state of fear had played tricks on him. What if Lincoln had been thrust into a similar scenario? Or rather, what if instead of his own sisters, he saw ten maniacally laughing figures leering down at him? He shuddered a bit. "I was afraid to go to school," Max finished. "My parents decided that I needed some quiet time... until I'm feeling better."

"And that's why you're here," said Lincoln.

"Yep."

"How long?"

"My mom and dad checked me in for five days. And today's my third." They went into Room 208A to play video games together. Lyra and Max's assigned adult also went in to supervise them.

"Guess we both need to take our minds off something," said Lincoln.

"Yeah," Max chuckled. "Welp, let's do this!"

"You two sure got along fast," said Lyra, impressed.

After about forty-five minutes of gaming, Lincoln and Max had bonded as friends even more. Of course, Max was by no means on the same level as Clyde in terms of his friendship with Lincoln, but the man with a plan managed to perk him up. It might have been Lincoln's reason for being checked in that made Max decide to approach him and be his friend. Of course, what might have helped is that they both happen to like the Ace Savvy comics. They returned to the larger room where the other kids were along with Lyra and the other adult.

"By the way," said Lyra. "I happen to know Max's mom personally. She's an old friend of mine. ...Well, she was the only friend I had growing up. Her name is Lina and not a lot of people were exactly kind to her because her mother was supposedly not a nice woman."

"What did she do?" asked Lincoln.

"Mom always told me to wait until I'm old enough to understand... and to be able to take it in," said Max. "But, long story short, I was told that the woman did something that... 'brought my mom into this world too early', as I heard it. So my mom was raised by foster parents and my mom's parents... again, long story short, went mentally insane and they'll prolly be living the rest of their lives out wherever they are now."

"I swear I'll never understand the motivations behind these kinds of people," said Lincoln sadly. "Some just do crazy and outlandish things... like my family did to me... even my... my mom..." Max put a hand on Lincoln's shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, man," he said. "I know it sucks... and I really hope things get better for you."

"Things ended happier for Lina," said Lyra. "She became a musician, met and married a therapist, and they reside together in Fern Valley, which is where I live too. But my house isn't too far from here."

"My dad's name is Shawn," said Max to Lincoln. "Shawn Long. So that means when my mom got married, she became Lina Long. Hey, maybe you can meet them one day! That is, if they decide not to pamper you after introductions." Lincoln chuckled a bit.

"Hey, Lyra," he then said. "What about you? Do you... live by yourself?"

"Yeah... I do," answered Lyra. "And yes, it does get lonely sometimes."

"You don't have a family?"

"I'm not raising one at the moment, if that's what you're asking, but my parents still live in Pleasant Greens. It's the next town up just north of here, so I visit them often when I can. Helping look after the children when I'm at work who come and go makes my life worthwhile."

"At least they have families to go back to," Lincoln said, looking down. "I don't know where I'll go, but I really hope things will work out."

"That's what I like to see in children such as yourself," said Lyra, pulling the white-haired boy into a one-armed hug. "You have such a good heart, showing concern for your family despite that they casted you out, and you don't seem to wish for anything bad to happen to them."

"Of course not!"

"But everyone should have limitations," said Lyra. "While being selfless is indeed noble, you do need to look after yourself as well. Think about yourself every now and then. Sacrifice may be an act of love, but isn't it about time that someone should be happy for you?" Lincoln began to ponder on these words, as he recalled that while arranging his belongings in his assigned room, which had been sold to several families and then returned to him, one of them was a portrait of his family.