Breaking Free from a Mama's Boy

thoughts of Julian and his mom that I got sc

uch, looking unusually serious. His mom was nowhere to be seen, an

pened his mouth,

were, "Katy, we

doesn't approve of

your things and move o

bolts had struck me, leavi

, storming over to him. "Don't tell me you're breaking up

s expression. "My mom said we're not right for ea

was

nd for a moment. But everything clicked then and there-

room to pack my things. But when I started gathering

n looked momentarily stunned before a

it a

w them away? My makeup, my skincare products-do you know how expe

ac

hand struck my face. For a moment, everything went

aty, watch your mouth. That's my mom you're talking about. If

ing. What else could he possibl

" I said, gathering the rest of my things as quickly as

suitcase behind me, I couldn'

or no reason, having their treasured belongings

must have looked awful, but I didn't care. I found

laces to rent near my office. Being a local, she was familiar wit

d for me, and after chatt

uldn't tell if it was because of the pain in my face o

300 basketball shoes because he loved playing, and I'd always gone to his games, bringing water and wat

ike an idiot. How coul

became. I felt cheated after putting in so

s boy. But all the advice I found was too extreme: beat him up, drug him, even kil

felt completely helpless and in

Vera Gill, who lived in another city. Hearing me

en scolded me. "Katy, you're such a smart person. How on ea

, she ended

ciding to take the day to rest and wait fo

e first thing she said was, "I'm in your c

, but even as I relished her company, the two o