side the red-brick apart

led twenty-dollar bill and ste

step groaned under her weight, a fami

her pocket and unlocked

e cheap, second-hand sofa and the wobbly coffee table

the wall. It was the two of them at

e in her

droom and dragged a battered bl

suitcase open

he TV. She didn't

cheap work suits and

ing silver necklace Kasen had given her for their ann

itcase shut, the pho

h Kasen's name, accomp

creen. Her eyes were

g her tight lungs. She swiped the scre

er. It was thick with fake exhaustion and gentle co

fingernails i

asked. She forced her

n lied effortlessly. "Helping a buddy set

king of ice against crystal glass. She heard Lex

ic shred of hope i

She looked at the peeli

ice flat and devoid of an

r end, only an audible, patronizing sig

n's voice was laced with weary annoyance. "Come on, Ka

he didn't cry. She

tely blocke

it off the bed. She looked around the tiny, path

ay. She unclipped the br

ooden shoe cabinet. The metal clatt

r and walked out. S

oklyn night. The rain instantly soake

down the cracked sidewalk

her thin coat. She shivered

ty-two dollars in h

me. She had n

rom sleeping on the streets

in drowned out her heavy exhale. She s