One day I would talk to Shiro more about angels. One day I would see the scars. But tonight, he left me and Matt alone at our old front door.

I look at Matt and realize I've never loved anyone in this way.

He moves like he's walking in a dream. Like the world's too bright, even at midnight, like he's expecting to turn around and everything to be gone.

Then he tries the door. His parents have left it unlocked for me.

Matt who had a whole life before this. Matt who was best friends with a boy named Dylan. Matt who loved birds, who loved his family. Matt who never got to say goodbye.

Welcome home.

It's only quiet for a moment before Gunther starts barking.

He runs into the hall, his tail is wagging and he's jumping all over Matt like a much younger dog.

He's never greeted me like that.

Matt smiles and holds him back by the paws. He kisses the dog on the nose and gets a face full of tongue.

They remember each other.

It must be the noise that brings my mother downstairs.

Matt's mother.

There's a light behind her in the stairwell and her footfalls are quiet on the steps. She doesn't believe in angels but I would swear right now she was one of them.

She's so beautiful I could cry. I've never loved her more.

"Hello, Katie. So, is this your new boyfr…"

She stops. I swear I can hear her heart stopping too.

Matt lets go of Gunther. He looks like he's seen the dead come back.

"…Mom."

She looks between us. She must think this is some kind of trick.

She reaches out to touch him.

I don't know what it is she sees, the thing that never changed. Something about him she might not even be able to name.

I'm never going to know. I'm not his mother.

She moves in to hold him.

"No!"

He stops her with his hands.

She looks hurt in a way I've never seen.

Gently, he takes something out of his pocket.

It's a baby bird.

It's ugly and shit-stained. It's crying.

She's crying, too. But she's smiling.

"I'll bet his name is Pinky," she whispers. She lights her arms over his shoulders and leaves space for the bird.

He's probably dreamed about this for years. I hope it's everything he ever wanted.

I wonder where I'm gonna sleep tonight.

There's a sound and I know it's his dad coming down the stairs.

My mom looks up. There are tears on her face.

"Sam."

Like it's something they've been waiting for. Like she knows he'd know what she means.

Everything they've ever said when they thought I wasn't listening bleeds into the room.

He comes down to meet his son.

They're both holding him now. Their child and his baby bird. Their orphan and his orphan, too.

He's missed them, he loves them, I can see it even though he hardly speaks.

All the lives I've ruined, right here. Even Gunther.

There's something inside me, it burns like a pill full of iron.

I love them so much.

I'm sorry I did this to them.

I step back. I'm wondering if I should go.

The man I've always called my father reaches out a hand.

"Katie."

I let him pull me in.

It's never meant more to me.

And I can't help laughing just a little.

Because it's funny, that the first thing my mind goes to is all the legal shit that comes with adopting one's own son straight off one's doorstep.

But I'm not worried.

I know an angel who's good at forging papers.