still smelled like last night's hurt - wet pave

ot today. She felt hollow, like her soul had been wrung out and hung to dry. Mya was still asleep,

dn't come hom

hours later, that familiar fear had returned - thick a

, and decided to che

out there after trading her food stamps for shots. But today, it was

de, but because the back porch was covered and quiet. Jayda found

no sign

the block, someon

ay

tu

r, hoodie up, phone

ips tight. "My m

"Want me t

. I can't chase her tod

u s

to finish that story. If that TikTok

Told you. Yo

back. "Talent doesn't

something - a

d at it. "I

r do. But I got i

ly, shame pressing against her ribs

he way... someone wa

nked. "Wh

mom. Been hanging around the barber

stomach

hat anymore - not unless they wer

d he loo

. Rough voice. Di

ath caught.

meone who wan

ou tell him

d I didn't kn

dded.

"You want me to

No. I want you to sta

-

and made it look fun by drawing a smiley face in ketchup. Mya giggled, but her

ind her?"

k her head

t her plate. "You

stead, she sat beside her and said

he door, pulled out the not

ame fast - like they'd

eaming. She was running. From something. From someone. A

wrote. Not because it was fic

was

as her

red of pretend

-

rom the drawer and placed it on the table. The shadows d

- a k

d raps at

a fr

he always c

d never kno

o the door and peered

e. Black coat. H

move. She d

the man s

ood ra

he know

again, slow

," he said. "I just want

r, heart racing. Mya peeked ou

t?" she w

trying to steady her v

en said, "Tell Sasha... I'm

go until he disapp

he couch with the candle flickering besi

t sleep t

e knew somethi

had no i