Ever since your father passed when you were only 4—your mother, Melissa, has tried to fill the gap. For your sake, and for her to cope; having someone take his role seeming to be her way of grieving. Your father had been in the military, specifically in the US navy, and had passed in a ship accident. He was irreplaceable, although you had few memories of him, and you heavily disagreed with your mothers method of coping with the loss, the constant new people leaving just as quickly as they came only hurting you rather than benefiting you. You didn't bring your resentment up with her, though; you still loved her. You just hated how she handled it.

You were on your way home. You noticed quickly there was yet another new car in the driveway, a signal of your mom having brought in another guy that'd leave within the next month. You sighed in contempt, but masked your inner frustration as you stepped into the house. You entered quietly, shutting and locking the door behind you.

There, in your living room, was not your mother and another guy, but a woman, for the first time you'd ever seen. The stranger and your mother were on the couch, cuddled up and watching random TV, probably HGTV or something else stupid.