l, a smile playing on my lips as I pulled into the visitor parking lot of the Innovatech Coding Bootcamp. It was a

at this intensive summer program for two weeks, and I missed him more than I could s

ist front desk where a young woman with severe glass

d, my voice bright. "It's his birthday, I just wan

me from head to toe. Her expression was

asked, her t

n. My son is F

icking loudly in the silent lobby. A f

wly, looking back at me. "But his records don't

I'm his mother. My husband, Mark, must have h

od up, a tall, imposing figure who now seemed more like a guard than a teacher. "We have a

g unease. "I can assure you, I'm his mother. Is th

affairs for this session," she stated, crossing her

an expensive-looking workout set. She glanced at me, then a

y toward the instructor. "Is

an is trying to gain access to a stud

worn-out tote bag. "You see all kinds these days," she muttered, loud enough fo

. My face flushed with heat. "Excuse me? I am not 'so

rge men, and their presence immediately turned the situation from an awkward misunderstand

ask you to leave," the first gu

are. "No, please, you don't understand," I pleaded, my voice

was firm, unyielding. The other guard took the cake box fr

I cried out, try

t," Ms. Albright said, her voice ringing with false authority and triumph.

with a smug, satisfied smirk. The receptionist was hidin

, my mind racing. "I hav

ped through my photos and found my favorite one: me and Finn at the beach la

con of my truth in this sterile, hosti

with dismissive contempt. She didn

bootcamp," she said flatly. "I see hi

ifferent boy? What was she talking about?

ispered, the words c

And she doesn't look like you," Ms. Albright

his happen. I couldn't be thrown out like this, accused of th

guard's grasp. I ignored their shouts, the indignant gasp fr

ra

ion desk and down a short hallway, following the l

My eyes scanned the room, searching for Finn's familiar face, his sha

idn't s

up, his eyes wide with surprise. He had blond hair and a smat

the guards stor

Ms. Albright shouted, point

looked at me with confusi

looking at me. He was lookin

ed on its axis. The boy

ed out, his voice clear and confident, "I