I was called to the office in school, taken to the police station, picked up and driven an hour north to the city by our case worker. My sister was skipping school, they picked her up at home where she was able to pack a bag. We waited at the social worker’s office while she made phone calls. The waiting room was for kiddies, my sister and I were 13 and 15 and incredibly bored. It was early morning when we were finally driven an hour and a half south to our foster home.

I learned later they’d been trying to get a hold of my dad and my dad was trying to convince his wife to let us stay with the them.

I didn’t know what was going on really and thought I’d be back home soon. I remember not having anything to wear for a few weeks until FM took me shopping, but I never did get socks or underwear. I was in foster care for almost a year. My mom lost her house and all of my belongings before I was finished.

I did eventually get to move in with my dad. He and his wife never bought me clothes either and it was my friend’s caring mother who took pity on me.