This story is so strange. Does the mother have a history of drug abuse or mental health issues? I just don't understand why anyone in their right mind would let their child go off with a stranger.

that was beautiful

Teenagers looking for validation outside of themselves? hmm... that just sounds like being a freaking teenager! They do it with selfies now when I was in HS we did with having the best clothes or shoes...who cares! They'll grow out of it. Most of us moved on from adolescence relatively unscathed.