The Secret We Carry

rocery bags in tow. she strode through the crowded streets of Chicago. Vendors shouted, cars honked, ki

taking large steps.There was purpose in her walk. A rhythm in her pace. Elena's eyes, dark and steady, scanned the path ahead, catching details others ignored a

y minutes ago, but paperwork and a tense argument with a supervisor had dragged things out. He slam

oo many others pretended everything was fine. And the politics? Don't even star

ner coffee shop when something or r

and, her plastic bags looped around her wrist. The world moved around her like a

ic. Calm in the middle

out her made

king toward her, thoug

He offered a not-straight smile half cha

guard but not surprised. H

aid, her tone measured,

d at the tamales sizzling on the griddle. ""

earted smile. "Mayb

s the m

alle

par

stand it then, bu

ose. Some Days he'd grab a coffee on the corner just to watch her pass. Other days

, but when she did, her words were carefully planned, thoughtful. She l

can family and his rookie-year disasters on the force. Elena answered with stories of her inMichoacán how she helped her mother f

, but somehow they

. She calmed him. They argued sometimes about politics, about pride, about when to

e folding chairs. Paul's cousin DJ'd with a busted speaker, and Elena's mother made enough tamales to feed three

ky, he promised her everything even the

rtment. Secondhand couch. Two jobs that

Steven, was born

world screaming, but the moment Elena held him, he quieted, eyes w

he could calm Paul's worst days with a single giggle. The apartment was filled with b

re exha

ha

he lett

sounded tired. Elena was in the kitchen, singing a soft steady song Paul didn't

he spotted an envelope on the ground, partially hidden under the doormat. I

mach dr

wly. Felt the weigh

damp, but the

it, hand

sent

. It's not. And this time,

at rumbled

g his voice to sound usual and

t look up

e letter int

teven slept, Paul stood by th

buried deep before m

, it wasn't j

ming for