Roger's POV.

I don't know how I fucking survived a whole week, away from my home and my family. After I said goodbye to my beloved son Josh and left the loft, I got into the car and started it up, not even thinking about where I was going. But somehow, I found myself driving to Santa Fe, the same place I ran away when Angel died and Mimi was slowly dying. I sat quietly on the old, battered couch in the middle of my dingy rented apartment, with my guitar in my lap, just thinking about all the things that happened up until this point.

How did I get here, how the hell?

This place had somehow become my retreat when things were going wrong in my life and I needed to get away for a while. Only this time, I was pushed away; by Mark, whom I loved and cherished more than anything in my life. But we were hurting each other so much. He thought that I was trying to get Josh to relive my drug-filled glory days which I wasn't fully able to enjoy, but I wasn't doing that at all. It really hurt me to hear the love of my life say such accusing things to me that are not true. So we decided that we really needed to think things over on our own. But I don't have anything to think about. All I know is, I love my Marky and my Josh and I can't live without either of them. But if Mark really wants this then I'm ready to give it to him. Because I love him. As much as it's killing me inside, I'm ready to give him whatever he wants, even at my own expense. I sighed heavily and plucked a few strings of Musetta's Waltz, hoping that that would life my spirits a bit and make me feel a bit more at home. It didn't.

Josh's POV.

Wow, it's been a week. A whole fucking week that Dad hasn't been around. A whole week that I haven't been able to look Aba in the face because he made Dad leave. A whole week I've been struggling to tell my friends Sean and Lea why I've been so depressed lately but failing to do so. A whole week of Kevin "Look At Me I'm Such A Manly Guy" Graham constantly yelling "fag boy" and "queer boy" at me and making lewd gay jokes every time I'm within his line of vision. But I didn't give a shit. Nothing could deter me from worrying about what how I hurt my parents so badly. Today was Friday, the day every school kid waited for, but I was far from excited. I was still furious at Aba for making Dad leave. In the morning, Aba wanted to take me out to the Life for ice cream after school, but I wouldn't let him. That was what Dad and I always did.

"C'mon Josh, it's just ice cream. I know things have been hard on you this past week. I just wanna treat you," he'd said.

"Ohh suuuuure," I'd replied as I slugged down a glass of cold milk. "And let's invite Dad along too. Oh wait I forgot, he's not here! Do you know where he might be?"

Aba sighed. "Yeshula son, please don't do this. I'm just trying to do something nice for you."

I glared at him. "Nice, would be if you brought my Dad back home to us, where he belongs! Think you can do that?"

"Josh, how many times do I have to tell you that we both need time to think? We still love you, you know!" he'd yelled.

"Well good luck trying to think about something both of you already know but are too chicken-shit to admit! You can go stick your phoney love where the sun won't shine!" And with that, I flung my glass into the sink where it split into three pieces, grabbed my school bag and stormed out the door. How the hell did they expect me to believe that they loved me when they were hurting me and themselves like this?

I couldn't concentrate all day at school. Lea and Sean were both very concerned about me but I still couldn't tell them, even though I so badly wanted to. Finally, just before our last period, English with Mr. Bromley, I turned to Sean in the school hallway and asked:

"Hey Sean, can you cover for me?"

He shifted his bag over his shoulder and asked, "Why? You planning to skip class?"

I sighed. "Yeah. It's just….you know……problems at home. I wanna go see if my Dad's okay."

Sean nodded sympathetically. "I understand. Don't worry, I'll cover you."

I smiled in relief at him, "Thanks buddy. You're a lifesaver." Sean smiled right back. I gave him a quick hug, got a hall pass from Mr. Bromley, and darted out the school as fast as I could. I walked the streets of Alphabet City with my heart pounding in my ears. I hoped I wouldn't get in trouble. I hoped Aba wouldn't hunt me down and kill me. But I just had to do it. I walked into the building that I was looking for me, when I froze at who I saw on the street outside. He walked up to me, with an evil smirk on his face and a plastic bag in his pocket.

"Hey little guy. Wanna buy some magic?" he said, showing me the bag. I glared daggers at him. I knew he was The Man, the one responsible for my Dad's addiction to herion. I turned on my heel and walked away, not bothering to say anything to him. I walked up to the office window, where a burly but kind old man greeted me as I approached.

"Hello," I said, smiling back at him. "How much for a bus ticket to Santa Fe, please?"