'S

a light in

my tunnel wa

was down with a fever. Called in for a sick leave, and the n

rd you work....or love. Y

It didn't even hurt anymo

r since that night, I'd been walking around wrapped in a kind of numb, hea

it locked up in pain. You can

ed me back the pieces. Love wasn't a comfort anymore. It

le that everyone ke

d? You're zoni

re, holding a dirty rag, staring at the smudged surface of the counter like I cou

n't go ba

smile. "Yeah

to the espresso machine. I was grateful she didn't push.

art. I took a deep breath, bracin

st move. Think about Mom's treatment. Lena'

ove the café

icked up a tray, forced anot

door chi

al clique. My stomach tightened. I hadn'

her eyes finding mine immediately. A c

eir order, my pen and not

id, faking enthusiasm. "The help.

iends s

ank, my eyes lower

Just take the

an I get

oking over the menu she already knew by heart. Finally, she rat

without a word, tur

prepared their drinks. Chloe glanced over, her

ray, setting the

I ordered," she said, her voice loud enough to turn a few heads. "I asked for

rgue. "I'll

t the espresso machine, I made the dr

r, she didn't touch it. She just stared

he said, her voice now echoing in the quiet café. "I told

was tied in

are as stupid as they say, aren't you? No wonder Nathan dro

rom the table and poured it slowly over her head. Iced coffee and

stunned, but

ped them on her. They shrieked, scrambling back from the booth, but I kept going until the last cup

é was de

the table. "Now you look like what you

to the back off

face already pinched with ir

ups on the table, to me standing calmly beside the boo

ened. "Ari. My

as beginning to tremble, whether from e

it in his eyes as I untied my apron slowly, fo

my voice steady, though something inside

alked out the front door, the bell chim

d through me moments before

t my last j

't afford to spiral. Not yet. I had

nd a new job.

walk into places, smile, pretend I wasn't one bad day a

t was fo

rning. Visiting hours at t

l needed. At least there was one person

ar, quiet hallway to her room. The nurse at t

tie," she said gently. "Had

throat tight.

, my back against the cool plaster. I drew my k

ther was. Figh

t... waiting. Trying

buzzed in

unknown number flashed on th

ne of the deb

overing over the decline button. But

rought the phone to my ea

" The voice on the other end was pr

. this

calling to inform you that your application has been shortlisted. You are scheduled for

floated somewhere in the air between the

John

y voice barely a whis

the email on your application. Please a

call

een. Outside my mother's door, on the cold hospi

an in

d a c