I’ve never felt so alone.

PROMPT: ‘What a day this has been.’ I’ve never felt so alone. Mom died this morning, and the landlord kicked me out of our home this afternoon. My mind reeled from all the things that happened so fast. I know we had six more months on our lease, but I don’t know how the law works. He said I had to be gone by four this afternoon because I was a minor and he won’t be responsible for me. I packed what I could in my duffle bag and grabbed Mom’s real jewelry and bank information. I packed the trunk of her car with what I thought might be valuable enough to pawn.

   “Hey Jace, this is Oz. Today’s been shit. Do you think your mom would allow me to stay with you until graduation?” His family knew my mom was ill, and I had no other family than her.

   “I’ll ask, but won’t your mom need you to stay with her?”

   “She passed this morning and old Mr. Smythe kicked me out because I’m only seventeen.” I wanted to cry, but at seventeen I was too old for tears to be helpful.

   “Oh dude, I’m sorry. I’ll ask and call you back.” The phone went dead.

   I boxed up food that wouldn’t spoil, but I was leaving so much stuff behind. No need to be concerned about it. Taking one more look around, I grabbed the television and would pawn it tonight. I wrapped it in a sleeping bag and put it in the back of the CR-V.

   Looking up at the dark windows of our apartment, I sniffled and got behind the wheel. Unsure how long I sat there, I felt void of all emotions. The sadness of Mom passing, combined with the uncertainty of my life, left me numb.

   Mom had held my hand when her smooth breathing turned into a rattling sound. She went over the plans we had for my future, graduation, college, and continuing my blog. It had gained momentum, and I made a couple hundred from it each month. She called it my savings account.

   The ringing of my phone disrupted my sad inner thoughts. “Hey, Jace.”

   “Yo’ dude. Mom said she can’t be responsible for you. But to stay in the apartment until Smythe brought the sheriff to remove you. Then you would have the foster care to rely upon. Sorry bro. Hey, think Tink’s parents might let you stay in their basement until you graduate?”

   “I’ll ask. Thanks.” I hung up. Tink’s parents didn’t like me, so I was fairly certain that would be a resounding ‘no’. I dialed her number.

   “Hey Tink. I’m wondering when my mom passes, do you think your parents would let me stay in the basement until I graduate?”

   “No. But Oz, your mom isn’t dying anytime soon. So don’t worry about it yet. Jace’s family will let you stay with them. He’s got your back.” I could hear her music in the background.

   “Yeah, you’re right. I’m just concerned about what the near future will hold.” I listened to her techno music.

   “My parents just got home. I’ll see you in school on Monday.” Tink hung up.

   I drove to the pawnshop and unloaded the fifty-five inch television and it didn’t bring me as much as I had hoped, but was more than I had and Smythe didn’t get to claim it. I drove down to the city park and sat. With the weekend to plan, before I went to school on Monday, surely I would come up with some place to stay until graduation or possibly my birthday come August.