on, tangled in silk

ssed somewhere across the floor. Her phone was buzzing

hing over without

mb

KILLED l

if you were an

la

e tricks pls 😭 I

wn Nu

efore I go

member y

sa

wasn't from

essage. No name. No p

last night. That voice in the

hovered over

e phone aside and

ternoon, s

tight. Hips swaying like

body still moved like she was performin

lked in. Barista smiled too long. A guy with tatt

a sm

ked th

d her coffee

gh her caramel latte

hoodie. Sneakers that cost more than rent. He was leaned against a

people looked at hi

nd hunger. Whispe

tely f

tely t

game? A billboard? One of those GQ covers sh

d

oking rig

t go home a

partment and seeing that stack of final notices on the kitchen cou

she went

s. Before glitter. Before heels. Back when they were waitressing at a crappy

apple-print bonnet and a hoodie

"you smell like se

ut waiting for an invite. "You

've been stuck editing TikToks for spoiled micro-influencers all day.

ndustry," Sasha said, tossing her b

zza and a warm soda. "Eat. Tell me what k

er thumb. "Private room. Red lights.

aria said, sitting u

" Sasha rolled her eyes.

left a

me to wear nothing

at's the hottest thing I've eve

ow, r

this. Needed one part of her life that didn't inv

idn't la

her phon

n't unknown numbers

her l

due on the 1st. Late fee a

s smil

e shift in her

had? Rent's still not paid. I h

nd grabbing the wine. "You need a glass

"I need a miracle, but

he sun was going down. The city started to buzz again-the same city that ch

ch just 'cause we're hot and half

at. Let 'em think we're dripping

sip. "Still gotta f

dn't say

re was noth

lity crashing back in-

p, makeup smudged, hair in a bun like a girl who did

"don't talk to me" and "ma

red souls. She sat by the window, chin resting on her

ng about that d

-"just a little help, baby,

the

that

th

ught ab

tside the

nd eyes she never even saw but

t approa

n't ne

, still as a statue, calm as

wat

rawling up her spine like

hook

e TikTok thirst traps who called

even know what her

er with silence and ove

ded into the kitchen in her underwear. The fridge was empty except

leaned against the counter,

from h

ng for a private show a

... new

erified

es nar

tapp

ali

you

e in the bio-just a crown emoj

ulse

ped the

twear deals. Paparazzi photos of him shirtless and sweat

l som

rts. But she knew fam

was sta

you

, paused,

d ag

sh

like wha

e

t read in less

rep

sil

r in her apartment f

know who th

e kne

was w