BOUND BY HIS NAME

ella

g to finish the morning duties, when

is weekend?" she asked, lea

y. I was in the hospital with my mom a

went to that new café down

ed, curious. "The

free pastries on Sundays?" An

ke she owned the floor, her high heels clicking softly, her dress perfectly fitted and shi

low and silky. "The boss demands your

tly, then whispered again, "You better not keep him wai

looks and whispered behind o

how she walke

oes she always dress lik

just to impress the bos

he notices?" I

much," Ana added, shakin

en reality hit me. My

art j

fice, my shoes clicking

all window. Mexico City stretched behind him, fu

of whisky, swi

ll you?" he asked

d," I w

do as you wished?" His voice w

to say. Then I whisper

cold and serious. "I hope you remember nex

ured, my voice bar

whisky and pointed at the

cked it up. The paper inside was crisp,

ion of E

nees, clutchin

.. I have no other job. My mother...

ice c

rk eyes. "I don't want you to go back to your seat. Or even mention

ease. I'

d his ba

spered. "At least l

r belongings are outside, waiting fo

hands trembling, as

elt like I had been

fer

ht of g

t.

not. I c

athing with the help of a machine in the hospital. Se

. No helpers. Just me

sky was dark, and the cold wind pulled at my

rapped in tears and pain, I hugged my arms aro

ney in my hand

gging my body mercilessly, reminding m

s I climbed the narrow s

e rain from my face, swallo

the news to Ale

an unfamiliar fragrance hit me. It

ong-chalky

e kind of fear that comes before se

cracked from fe

. No sig

me... a

followed was heav

I heard a woman's voice

their own toward the half-closed door.

ar, it was exactl

," I

lf unbuttoned. Alex wasn't even surprised to see me

e said, "we need to talk,"

barely a whisper. "For fiv

l, so what?" he i

is dramatic,"

ng like you didn'

ted like blood, especially because it

nymore. I'm tired. I've been paying your rent, your mother's

harder than th

face as my mouth hu

rself," he continued. "How do yo

d back,

ex? You cheat just

attention back

ty slipped through my

dragged myself out

k gate," Alex said lazily. "And

clothes had already been thrown i

outside under the rain, h

d before she fell ill. It was a small self-contained

d, my heart s

thick bulldog chain, locke

was attac

ent overdue. P