ss

dusty hardwood floor. I stirred under the thin blanket draped over the couch, one leg da

. Another four-hour shift at

. I really needed to start sleeping in my bed again,

he fridge. It wasn't much-just enough space to trip over things-but it was mine. It smelled l

tle, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. My phone lit up ne

o eat, sleep, dress warm-like I was still sixteen and not in the thick of a

ly yet. I didn't want to lie, and

living on noodles, or stressing over late bills and creeping

ped mug and stirred in instant coffee. Bitter, but effe

out loud, but I could tell she was lonely now that it was just her. I hated t

t he was laughing too loud at some sitcom, an

ache still hit me at random-like this morning. The scent of

no time

opened my planner-a mess of sticky notes and s

ater, grabbed my bag, a

I s

k and white, sitt

address. N

-scrawled in bold block

se tic

wn the hall

t felt... off. Not dangerous, not at first. Just wrong. Out of place. Like

I ope

le item: a small

No inst

a long minute, sta

ies. No drama. I was boring, care

ing would be

he drawer under my socks, slamm

s, same smell of sugar from the bakery, same guy handing out

waved me over when I arr

g," I m

lping with the e

uldn't m

your organiza

my seat. It was easier to focus on ass

kept clawing at th

d

ys traveling. I never asked questions, and he never volun

wasn't

hours bouncing between worry and

and took out the flash

it into

of files. All password

gle v

icke

amiliar, filled the room. I

g this, it means yo

fr

re others who want what your father left behind. Be care

een wen

afterward wa

rd, but I couldn't move. My heart

ll had I ju

father been

suddenly p

his was. I

ow, feeling like the floor bene

p down

asn't

nly the