It Starts with Us

Atlas’s friend informs him that his mother has shown up unexpectedly at his restaurant, but because he dreads seeing her, he delays his return to the restaurant. Atlas’s mother reveals that she needs Atlas’s help to find his 11-year-old brother, Josh, who has run away: She faces truancy charges if he does not return to school. Unaware of his brother’s existence, Atlas questions his mother about Josh and discovers that, without Atlas’s knowledge, his mother and brother have been living in Boston for the past 10 years. After his mother mentions his brother’s resentment of Atlas’s absence from his family, Atlas realizes that his brother has been the one vandalizing his restaurants. Atlas’s mother’s lack of concern for his brother’s safety angers him. A call from Lily intervenes, and when Atlas opens the video call, he can tell she’s been crying. He asks for her address to come give her a hug.

Lily nervously prepares for Atlas to come over, but when he arrives, they embrace. Atlas divulges his plan to stay overnight at his restaurant to catch the vandal in the act, and Lily gives him her next journal to read. After Atlas leaves, Lily reflects on her growing feelings for Atlas and how much Ryle’s abuse damaged her ability to trust.