This conversation follows two young people on the edge of leaving Denver for Grand Junction, where they hope for steadier ground. They describe connections with a “street mom” who once sheltered them and a possible welding job waiting at a junkyard. They also open up about recent struggles, including heavy drinking, abuse, and a violent street incident where one of them was beaten by peers for hitting his partner—what they call “street justice.”

Alongside hardship, there are moments of generosity remembered—like a South Dakota farmer who once gave them food, money, and shelter. The story reveals a fragile balance between survival on the streets, the pull of destructive cycles, and the belief that they can still rebuild and redefine their lives together.