t move. It felt like something

gain. Her voice always cracked like that,

carried her down a narrow hallway. The floor

ybe five. She didn't rem

le lit the room. His hands were tied. Red marks circled his wr

ropped her

t in a rocking chair. "No more running

d to. The woman always called them that.

,that's not my name and She's

. "I know. Not

ink cupcake toward her

helps. Make

shaky hands. Her eyes s

o," he

ir real names. There

chest rose and fell fast. H

her

re getting sharper. Clearer. She remembered the sme

hrough her tangled hair. Outside, a

erythi

ills. Her mom's pill

air barely brushed. Her eyes stung from lack of sleep. She dropped her bag behin

ix!" Jun

bing a tray with two cups of

wering her voice. "You

Lucy said. "

never

he reached the table, her foot hit a mop bucket someo

e jumped up, yellin

mered, reaching for napkins

at his soaked shirt. "Are

't mean

ween them. "Sir, your tea is free. We'll ge

burning. Her throat tight

ed her a bottle of water. "Ta

"The dreams... they're worse.

rrest, your mum... it's a lot. But y

try

e five before s

came a voice

ere, arms crossed.

embezzler's daughter,

not okay. Her dad's

a customer. First your dad steals from the company he

ed off before the tears in her eyes sp

#

dropped her bag near the door. The curtains w

she cal

th

kitchen. The stilln

um

n she s

e hand stretched toward the table. A glass had spi

ped to her knees

ce. Twice. Her m

h her phone. "Please, someone help

an ambulance. My m

fluttered open. "It's okay, my baby. Take care of you

n't do this to me," Lucy

just noise cars rushing past, footsteps echoing down the halls

take it fr

other was rushed int

ted. An

lked out, holdi

said gently. "She

just sat, staring at the wall. Num

as slipping. Her dreams were s

her mum

couch, still in her work clothe

eam re

the boy's voi

trong," he said.

Because strength wouldn

ad come, and now d

was al