I walked back to Mateo, the knapsack slung over my shoulder. Mateo was in the kitchen, opening and closing the cupboards, throwing things everywhere. “Are you sure your mom’s okay with this?” I asked, skeptical. He didn’t turn towards me, but nodded, “I’m sure. Don’t worry.” That did not keep me from worrying, “Fine. What did you need that sack for again?” I placed it on the ground in front of him. Mateo swung around and picked it up, glancing at her, “Food, blankets, things like that, of course!” I raised an eyebrow, “Why are you helping me? I can do this myself.” I didn’t mean to be snappy, but it came out as that anyways, “Besides,” I added, “I’m doing this alone, you’re not coming with me.” He opened the sack and began to carefully pack things inside of it, “You’re the only one who has said that.” I frowned, “That doesn’t make it any less true. Your mother wants you to stay safe. You should stay here.” Mateo shook his head but didn’t reply. “I should go.” Mateo looked up at me, shocked, “By yourself?” I nodded, unfazed by his expression, “You’ll get caught!” I shrugged, “I’ll probably get caught, whether you come with me or not. I can do this myself, Mateo.” He narrowed his eyes, “Then you shouldn’t have any trouble letting me come with you.” Shaking my head, I walked towards the door, “I need to go, Mateo.” He looked down at the ground, then back up at me, his face hardened, “Fine.” He paused, then handed me the knapsack, “Take this, there’s food and blankets.” I didn’t want to take it, but I doubted Mateo would let me leave without it. I swung it over my shoulder and nodded graciously to him, “Thanks.” He nodded back to me, but his expression told me everything that he was thinking. He wasn’t happy that I was leaving without him, after all he’d done to help me. I felt the same way, but Tresa’s words echoed in my mind. Make sure they don’t catch my son. What better way to keep him from getting caught than leaving him here? It was better this way. I felt Mateo’s stare as I exited the house, creeping into the alleyway in which I had slept in the night before.
