The Ties That Binds

mery, we ne

, her fingers stiffening around the ceramic mug of lukewarm coffee she'd been nursing for the pas

d to mock her life's turmoil. The house was empty, quiet, excep

er this time, pulling her at

ould

arly in the morning unless there was something urgent. Her eyes flickered to the clock on the

ke a sudden wave, this

ked her reflection in the hallway mirror. Her dark brown hair was tied up in a loose bun, stray strands falling into her face, and her pale skin looked even pale

to approach the door. Her hand hesitated on the handle, but

r. His suit was sharply pressed, too formal for the casual, suburban neighborhood she l

ice deeper this time, almost as if he ha

sudden wave of dread rising in her

ed down at the envelope in his hands, as though making sure it was the right one before han

umerous letters she had been avoiding, the final warnings, the calls from collections agencies she'd tried to ignore. But hearing the

elope from him, feeling the weight of

ng despite herself. She had to understand, even if she didn'

losure process," Avery said, his voice without empathy, his eyes still scanning the clipbo

ng... I've made the payments." Her voice trembled, but she

ast six months. Unfortunately, we cannot extend the deadline any further. The total arrears must be paid in

after payment, but life kept throwing curveballs, unexpected medical bills for her father, rising utiliti

ars, but she bit her lip to hold them b

't begging, at least, she didn't want to be. She wanted to be strong. But what else could she do? Eve

aps sympathy, perhaps indifference. It was hard to tell. "Your options are limited, Ms. Montgomery," he said. "You can pay the arrears in full, or you can a

ad of hope they offered. But deep down, Savannah knew that even a payment plan woul

o walk away. But before he reached the sidewalk, he stop

he next step, if no arrangements are made, is

her hand, the weight of her entire world pressing down on her chest. The house, the only thi

he empty street. Her mind was reeling, her thoughts fragment

ls piling up, her father's medical expenses, and the never-ending cyc

to fall, but Savannah didn't move. She didn't know w

d, she pulled it out, expecting a call from one of the credit

ee later? Let me know w

couldn't let her in on this, at least, not yet. She wasn't ready to admit how clo

t

yped back, "Sounds goo

ore time to waste. The clock was ticking, and the weight of her si