d - but she shouldered it open with the ease of muscle memory. The apartment was dim, lit only by the fli

d inside a

and smoke. No new damage. No bro

arefoot, her little face lighting u

, grabbing the grocery

n. "Of course I'm back. You thought I

sa smells like onions

ll, she's a lifesaver, even

y box of cookies Jayda splurged on because she knew what joy looked

om the couch. She hadn't

rom carrying trays, knees tired from standing. But the ache was familiar. She

notebook, drawing. Her tongu

you wor

t's got stairs and two bath

twist behind her ribs. "Y

ig one. And a fr

ed. "What d

ob, Jayda. You're

y so her sister wouldn't

ugh. They ate on the couch - their mother still unconscious behind them. Jayda tried not to

cking her math homework, Jayda tucked her into bed. Mya

y knows about us?"

. That ques

aby," she said h

nk he'd com

forehead. "You

done. "I don't

he one that never left. "He was

ay. The hallway was cold, and the carpet scratched

red in the distance, people shouting, music thumping from some car

ide, pages were filled with numbers - rent, electricity, gr

a ba

t G

out

a to the

a prayer. She didn't know how she'd get ther

hone

fro

? Need

riend. Maybe more, if her life had space for that kind of thing. He a

ack: I'm okay

e through if you want.

r's bedroom door, then at her mother still passe

e kitchen table and op

te a ne

't b

etic, but it

e table. The hum of the fridge, the ticking of the stove, the faint snore fr

't cry. No

e dark, "Please... just