a's

d into every p

d to the bone, my clot

umbrella-I gave

ways

in rain or burned by the sun th

y the downpour c

d to be the st

ay

her eyes wide as she opened

waiting shed?" "It was getting lat

and the streetlights on som

flashlight, so

ing home even later." I grabbed the tray holdi

the house, separated from the main

the spring wa

ying to ignore the w

t have a

ver h

ing we'd always endured, like

ld dresses-frayed around t

ing area, where a wooden table mean

your graduation," Mary said

lone while Grandpa was out working o

okay

ders

got out of

than anything." "I'm

ictorian," she said, her fac

could be

but it'll be tough." "You don't ha

aledictorian so I could se

y way I can

ade it." It ha

e job, pushing through exhausti

d no oth

r the cost of college, n

ns again," she

ecome a successful ci

Her words filled my

k you

lieve in

mazing flight attendant o

to travel the world?" "Of c

es and postcards from

riends from e

se for Grandpa and Grandma-one with a pr

wenty-five." "Why?" I as

" She grew quiet, her

to see you su

ng you stru

with Grandpa, give

ile you don't have one yourself."

enough for o

ways call you if she

chool library f

me." Mary blinked back tears,

you,

me." Her words hit so

faced made me who I am

over again if it means helpin

ster to me," Mary said softly-and then, to

moment, caug

't hug m

like

fel

u

ne

ying those words in he

already asleep," she murm

em eat ah

not to wor

ow to work at Hacienda Monleon." Sh

attend your grad

pa that Grandma

ed." I looked at her

spoke with so much

ll of pride

onsible than I ever expected, and doin

e dropped t

ai

asked, the familiar aro

paghetti was reserved for birthdays, Christm

made something t

ed with

not

d've been a gra

valedicto

is." She paused, her voi

ave the money fo

figur

odded, trying not t

continued, her eyes flicking

elebrating in nice restaurants, having thei

th

t for a second, I saw the hint

long

that things w

ed to avoid-the social circles, the p

s kept my

r Ariana

nd, the kind of girl who reac

o didn't care that I wore hand-

friendly,

H

etti gets cold," Mary said

-another skill we'd

cessity,

, clean, and manage a

ecause we were grateful to them for

ys I longed f

answ

ther I n

her in photos-faded snapsho

fa

gh

me, n

sil

tell us who he was?"

oice filled with a strange mix of love an

day and told us

ed to nam

re born, I

n time, sh

Two years later, his

was

andpa's disappoin

was pregnant again, but becau

ver ca

er let us f

the greatest thing that ever hap

died, she took he

our grandparents

learned to wo

aking before the sun or scrubb

a was

ed hard

u look so

our mind?" Mary asked g

and Adonis tod

lit up im

ea

drive pas

rtible again." I nodded,

opped by

a got

oked s

r, and she smelled like some luxury perfume

ng?" I scoffed, but couldn't help

l arr

ll

t.

ven more handsom

take my e

atched his face." "You kno

e likes you," she said

you-" "Don't finish that," I

not lo

just

ind of games th

ll in love-th

racked slightly at the end, and I hated h

icked me last ye

et of some stup

to believe he meant it."

t know the fu

ght after th

didn't see." She was always hopeful,

ember, Mary had wanted m

never hurt

igh school, Adonis Monleon had always been

scra

slum

onfessi

me-humiliated me-hi

was furious when I still wrot

out," sh

ven a space in your m

ark on you, even when

n't get it,

treat you s

like you're hi

the farmhan

ne ado

ole town he seems to hate." Ma

oesn't hate

started clearing the table, needing some

it,

are never goi

ing crush, but I hate him

ur

ing yours

face: I was right." I shook my he

o Ariana today?" I asked af

er I wasn'

n front

even there."

rio

o

s my point-he l

that conclusion?" I tu

he's ly

round here

st beautiful

natural

ucts to glow." She smiled, ey

hard said

ok like a G

fight wars for-and women would d

ar

op

have to

you a

that to make me feel bette

uth," she said firmly,

a chance, maybe you'd be i

from the capital who'

all down." I sat down ag

jus

n, Mary." She reached across t

for someone who k

g different

one

t o

ile Mary slept soundly on her side of the room, I lay aw

thing di

top letting memories o

on to someone who nev

sn't as easy as

broken

ill gatherin