After her afternoon of tears, I thought of a way to cheer her up, something I should’ve done anyway because she was leaving her home, and even as messed up as her life here had been, I figured she had to have some fond memories of the place at least.

I sometimes forget that I myself was born here and had spent my more formative years here before moving to NYC. I can’t help but try to imagine how my life would’ve turned out had I not left. How different would I be now? ...