at this point and time

It was good to be in a real house, again. One with a bathroom and running water. Irma couldn't believe she'd finally made it here, all on her own. Well, Jess's mother had sent her the bus ticket. But no more Nolan and his family and all the mess that came with it. She was back and rooming with her cousin Jess.

"You, want to talk about it?" It was just the two of them now. Upstairs at Jess' in the attic. It was such a big room. Irma could have the other half, all to herself, but tonight she was sleeping with Jess.

"There's nothing to talk about." She doubted Nolan would think to find her. He was working on the pipe line. It was going to be fine. Still, she felt defeated.

"You, pretty much have a job, waiting for you." Jess told her with a smile. They could work together at the same fast food place. She listened to Jess talk about her boyfriend Slater.

"He would never work there, but his best friend does." Jess told her. "Maybe the four of us ..could you know, go out some time." She talked about Clive. "He's so funny." She giggled.

"Well, I don't need funny." She was straight lipped. It felt like she'd been to hell and back with Nolan.

She remembered a time when he told her he would take care of everything. He would always be there for her. No need for her to move around so much. Sleeping on that friend's couch or whatever. Yes, Irma had been homeless a good bit of her life.

She knew she needed to finish school. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that she could actually be on her own.

If only she'd had a family like Jess'. It was enough to make her eyes soften in warm tears. But she had to be a fighter. She did. There was no one who was going to take care of her a 100% , and she wasn't going to depend on anyone, either.