Matt was at a complete loss. He didn't remember getting passed the checkpoint, entering Alyce's apartment, or her leaving the room and taking a shower. All he could remember what his dad told him before he and mom left to go get supplies. "We'll be back in a few days, son. Sit tight, and don't get into trouble." Except they didn't come back. Matt waited at their camp for nearly 2 weeks, but they never showed up. That was when he met Karl, wandering around mumbling about the Ragnarok, carrying a large axe. Karl taught Matt everything he knew about how to survive by himself, and Matt would have died without him. After that, he just assumed both his parents were dead. [i]Why was he here in Boston? Why didn't he come back to Ohio to find me? Where was Mom?[/i] All of these questions tumbled in Matt's mind, but the biggest question was the one that hurt the most. 

[i]Why didn't he recognize me?[/i] 

Matt was brought out of his revery when Alyce walked in. He didn't think it was possible, but she actually looked even more radiant now than before. She came over and sat on the sofa beside him.

"Listen," she finally said. "About that guy, the one who bumped into you? You seemed... stunned to see him. Is everything okay?" He told her everything. He had never met someone who he could unload to, but for some reason, he felt like he could trust Alyce. He told her about his parents, about Karl, about seeing him today.

"Look." he said. "I know this sounds crazy, but I need to find him. I need to know why." He looked right into her eyes. "You don't owe me anything, but I have no where else to go. If you want, I can get a job here while I try and find him. Please, help me."