RY

aptop all night, the bl

tutoring, barista gigs... the pay was a drop in the ocean comp

even radical clinical trials. Nothing worked

window, but I felt no warmth

ck on my door shattere

stood there. He looked slightly disheveled, holdin

remorseful. He

nightmare in the morning. She doesn't even know how to use a coffee machine, and she complained

"Here. I bought you flowers. Now st

y paralyzed by the shee

to erase his betrayal. He expected me to just tie on an apron and cook

hit me. I snatched th

d come around-" h

n

mped the ruined flowers directly

ead and hollow. "Keep the trash. Now get o

shed. His face flus

nd give you a way out! You have zero money, Avery! That old nanny of yours is probably taking her last breath ri

er beg you for a single cent,"

him out into the hallway, and slammed th

w times, shouting curses, b

ge didn't solve my nightmare. The c

icked up my phone and dialed the o

e. My adopt

Finally, she answered. The sound of clinking tea

th extreme impatience. "Make it quick. I

failure is terminal. The hospital needs fifty thousand dollars by tomorrow f

lling silen

oft, elegant laugh that

cheap pair of shoes. "Avery, I just spent twice that amount on a cu

st the Pierce Group's charitable image. We paid for your tuition. That is where our 'gen

tears of pure desperation finally

you. Remember your place, Avery. You are a stray dog we