The next two days roll by like nothing at all.  It's bittersweet for me.  For one, I know that this may answer all my questions…But I don't know what comes after that.

After school Wednesday I come into the house and my mom is standing at the door waiting. 

Great. What did I do now?

"Honey, you've been so quiet lately.  We're worried about you."

"Didn't we just have this talk the other day?" I say impatiently, trying to edge my way toward the stairs.

"Em." My mother says tenderly. "I love you.  I'm worried.  Please."  She really does look afraid. 

I breathe deeply.  I need to talk to her. But I can't. I'm meeting Sher at the subway station in fifteen minutes.  I take my mother in my arms and hug her. 

"I love you too, Mom, I really do," I say, "But right now. I can't talk to you. I have to go somewhere, and it's really important to me."

She looks hurt. "More important than the woman who brought you into this world?"

I pause.

"It's about the world you brought me into." I say. "I can't stay here anymore. I have to go. I love you mom." I say.  I run up the stairs.  I feel tears burning.  I don't know if I'll ever see her again.  I mean, sometimes, she was really great.  But I can't think about that now.  I have to leave. Now.

I grab my bag, throw on my other jacket, and slip out of my school shoes and into my walking ones for in town.  I take a carefully folded letter out of my drawer and seal it into an already stamped and addressed envelope.  I put it carefully into my pocket and then, I hear my mother, walking up the stairs.  I crawl out the window, and slide down the shingles to the damp cold ground.  The sun shines bright and a breeze makes me pull my jacket closer to me, and sling my pack further up on my shoulder. I see Sherin sitting on the bench next to the subway staircase looking nervous.  I sit down beside her and kiss her gently.

"I'm scared Emmy." She says, looking into my eyes.

"I know," I murmur softly, "Me too."

We take each others hands and walk down into the subway.  I buy us both tickets and we ride in silence.  She seems really really scared.  I hold her close, whispering to her.  That I love her.

The train screeches to a halt at our stop after some time.  I stand up and take her hand as we walk out and up into the glowing sunset.

We're here. This is it.  This is the night.  I walk up to a mailbox on the corner and drop the letter in.  I sigh, and then squeeze Sher's hand.