a skeleton, stripp

s were bare, gathering the first specks of dust. Thr

nt, as always, but weighed down by a profound s

ow. "This is his private number. He wi

Father

is city is too small for his anger and your pain. And he knows that if you stay,

kissed my forehead

, Elena. No

eard the crunch of tires rol

e here,

, a sharp, final gest

tairs, the wheels bumping rh

re still bandaged from where they had cut themselves in t

w whistle. "Packing heavy for the dor

ms. They thought this was just another semester, another phase w

entials," I l

ndle of the largest bag. "We'll help you set up. Sofia

ar. The driver was already hoi

Luca's p

cing sound that cut t

red it i

down. Wha

is face. His knuckles we

We're on

, his hand

said, breathless. "On I-9

e. It hit the pavement wi

tteo demanded, his vo

a said, his eyes wi

oked at

l throbbing under my clothes, and my entire life packed into bags

y backing away toward their SUV. "We have to

id. My voi

er!" Matteo yelled over his

re out of the driveway, leaving bla

minor fender bender for a girl who had hurt me, an

ar, the silence of the in

told the driver.

d out m

group chat

leave you b

e

of the case and re

down th

little plastic chip in half a

into the gras

e," I