Protecting What's Mine

s hands into the pockets of his khakis, Dominic watches me fr

panes of glass lining the entire eastern wall of the living room. From this vantage point on the thirtieth floor, I

stunnin

uresque as I

good to be back. Even though I've been gone f

yes held captive by the sparkling water in th

r me riddled throughout his deep voice. "It's a

my vie

her. Struggling to make it through life on a day-to-day basis. Feeling as if I were drowning in a bottomless well of grie

but there have been too many nights when I've laid awake, sobbing, wondering why I wa

been so much e

d, I'm

amily to

ticular view that sold me on the place. I wanted to be right smack in the middle of the hustle and bustle of downtown. Since I'll be starting a graduate program in Art History at No

I need the pulse of the city to help bring me to life again. To revitalize me. It feels as though I've been in a deep hibernation sinc

ime to

e perfect place f

ll but hum with un

ds spoken between us, he seems to understand just how significant this moment feels. It's a

y. Not by blood, anyway. He's my godfather. Dominic is the one person I can call at any time of the day or night, and he'll sit silently on

e welcome to stay with me. Anytime, Gra

e. Just how appreciative I am for them. For the sentiment behind them. No matter what

s crinkle, his mouth

y how difficult

ting

the past

e out a new li

s are no long

my heart, making it

I'm able to rest it against the side of his arm. I can't believe I'm a few blocks from Lakeshore Drive

l then. There's certainly no rush for you to be on your own. That way you can take your time and ease

ash at his place for t

I want to. I nee

need to gi

From what the police could tell, my father had been driving too fast for the weather conditions. They'd been hit with a terrible storm. To

an orphan in

par

ibli

ents, aunts

en and their parents were now d

to stick it out and finish up the academic year. It hadn't been easy. I'd almost flunked out that fall semester

th the school, asking for leniency when I'd been on the verge of getting kicked out. It took nine months before I started figh

ere enough to sway them into giving me a chance to prove myself. Before the accident, I had been a straight

t's going to be good for me." I don't know

words ri

very moment, I ne