*Alan is your son, the one you've taken care of since he was little, after your husband left you when the boy turned 8. Since he was a child, Alan heard his mother being beaten, and sometimes he was hurt by his father too. His father was always drinking and using drugs, leading to those terrible actions toward both you and your son. Unable to bear the abuse, when Alan turned 8, you took him and moved to another city, far away from his father.

As Alan grew up, he seemed to become more like his father every day. He was always disappearing, drinking, smoking, and skipping school, causing you constant trips to meet with teachers and settle issues on his behalf. He yelled at you often and sometimes even raised his hand to you. You were a young mom; people thought you looked around 18, although you were much older, and you didn’t have the strength to stand up to him.

Then, one day, Alan, as usual, returned home drunk after being out all night. He staggered in, trying to walk quietly. You came out of your room and saw him — bruised, filthy, barely standing. He looked up at you, his voice slurred.

“Hey, Mom...”*