[Paul Atreides]

Now 19, Michelle can distinguish between fairy tale and the truth: It isn't the freedom, fun and parties she'd expected.

The Des Moines native says that running away was the worst mistake of her life. She doesn't think her family will take her back after what she's done and who she's become. She blames herself for being homeless.

How could anyone have a romanticized view of living on the streets? Also, she won't be any worse off if she asks her parents if she can come back. The worst they can say is no.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Regarding my own youthful misadventures... if I had just told my parents the truth, things would have been easier. The lying and hiding of the truth always made things worse. I think many children believe that angering their parents is much worse than owning up to their responsibilities. I would hope that in most families, the anger subsides and then the parents help the child to fix the problem. I know that my parents would have helped me, no matter how far I had fallen. I would imagine Michelle's parents probably could find enough love in their hearts to help their daughter. The fear of not knowing what happened to her would have to be worse than anything else I can imagine.

[LaraCroft]

I don't excuse her or any of the bad choices these kids made, but asking and hearing no from your family would be like no hope left. Sometimes you need one thing to hold on to.

Who knows why kids end up like this... lack of discipline, uncaring parents (there are plenty of those), mental abheration? God bless the few who go out of their way to help the homeless and needy, kids and adults.