s loud-like screaming, o

oating just under the surface of cold water, wa

The only light comes from the hallway, a pale gold sliver sneaking through the cr

I do

2% battery

messages with Mom. The l

late. Don'

Need a

Just

red after that.

mean to. It clatters across the fl

comes out. Just this raw, tight ache in my thr

y. I already m

comes at

raps, sharp

ve to check. It

stands there in his always-too-tight polo shirt and clipboard

ate again

"My mom's not back yet. She p

hasn't returned

er phone in a sink a

day. After that, I need full payment o

, like I'm just a kid w

t just a k

er comes a

t stores with a borrowed

s. "You need a permit i

ot hiring, even though th

doesn't ev

e walked five miles, and the onl

t, and think: This is what falling apart fee

t, I drea

inging something soft under her breath. I

eetheart. You jus

d my legs, the room colder than usual. I try to

whisper into

e are

ce an

urviving and sinking is thi

. One broken ru

, I make a

day, I'll have to leave. Pack up, disap

rom school. Not from friends. Not fr

p to m

onl