I lost everything in one month—my job, my girlfriend, my dog, even my house. With nowhere else to go, I called the one person I could always trust: my mom. She told me to come stay with her at her new condo on Padre Island. I thought she would be angry or give me a big lecture, but instead, she welcomed me with love, care, and a warm smile. Living with her again felt strange at first. We’ve always been close, more like friends than just mother and son.