"I'm going to be going away for a while," Tony said slowly, holding the frail woman's hand with a gentleness exclusive to only a few others, "but I will be back, I promise."<br/><br/>"That's nice dear," the woman smiled, patting his hand before turning away to look out the window.<br/><br/>Tony couldn't tell if his mom was having an off day, or just didn't care. She'd had fewer and fewer off days since she'd moved into the home, but they were still unavoidable. He decided to continue, despite her lack of attention.<br/><br/>"I'm going to find my sister, like you told me. She'll forgive you, I'm sure."<br/><br/>She didn't reply.<br/><br/>It was better to leave. Tony patted his mom's shoulder. "I'm gonna go now. Love you."<br/><br/>As he grabbed his bag and the entrance and left the home, Tony thought about his intentions for meeting his sister. It wasn't just about forgiveness. It was about need. Of the money made from selling his parents' house, he had saved enough to live for a month. The rest went to securing his mom's place at the home. He was nearing the end of the month, and financially dead.<br/><br/>He wasn't planning on being a burden or dead weight on her. Growing up, Tony had always hated people who sat back and did as little as possible. He would find a job as soon as he could, help pay bills, and as soon as he had enough money he would go back to college and be out of her life. If she wanted him to.<br/><br/>Tony would also quit his habit. He'd tried so many times before, but something had always come up and it was the only way that he could relax. Well, whether that had happened before or after he had started, Tony didn't know.<br/><br/>Alice lived a four-hour bus ride away. It was closer than Tony had expected. Dad hadn't been the sentimental type, and not one to hunt down a kid he'd put up for adoption. But his mom, especially now, seemed so concerned about forgiveness that Tony wondered why she hadn't tracked Alice down herself. Maybe it was shame, or fear.<br/><br/>Tony felt a little afraid himself as he stepped into the bus.<br/><br/>There were three other people on the bus: a pretty young woman, and older, tired-looking gentleman, and a woman in business clothes. Tony found his way to the back of the bus and put in his earbuds. The music was pensive and orchestral. It was the kind of music that his dad had liked. As a kid, he thought it was boring and lethargic, but when his dad passed away, the music had a sort of connection that he felt he needed to chase. Tony flipped his hood up and focused his gaze on the window, fingers tapping uneasily on his knee.<br/><br/>If not for the constant starting and stopping of the bus, Tony might have fallen asleep. It was unusual that he was so tired, seeing that most nights he couldn't sleep. His sinking eyes kept watch of the station names. He didn't want to miss it and be forced to hitchhike.<br/><br/>The bus lurched for a final time and Tony stepped out on to the concrete sidewalk.<br/><br/>It was a nice neighbourhood, even if it was cloaked in an evening darkness that usually made places look more sinister. Tony stepped forward and looked at his phone to double-check the address.<br/><br/>It was a fifteen minute walk before Tony found the house. It was raining slightly, soaking through his cheap sneakers. As he stepped up to the door, he wished he had smoked just a little. But he had promised himself he would be completely lucid for the situation.<br/><br/>Tony hesitated, rocking on his feet and slowly raising his hand to the door. After a few moments he finally gave the door a knock, sharper than he had intended. His heart raced from nervousness.<br/><br/>What if she wasn't home?