a

apartment building and stepped onto the street. I didn't have an umbrella, and I didn't care. Wit

locks, my sneakers squelching with water, until

chest to stop myself from shivering. The chill outside was nothing

d it out with cold, clumsy fingers. The

k about this. I made a massi

cation popped up right beneath

ain. You have nowhere else to go and no money

n't reply. I held the power button down until the screen displayed the

cry when the driver opened the folding doors, o

leaned my head against the cold, vibrating window, staring out at the blurry

ng ballet auditions because he said my late-night rehearsals made him feel lonely. I had bought his clothes, managed his schedule, and believe

to a light drizzle. I stumbled off the high bus step onto th

uilding that always smelled faintly of roasted coffee and old radiator pipes. I

pulled open, and Kiki stood there wearing a gray oversized t-shirt

me standing in the hallway-soaked to the bone, sh

y table and reached out, grabbing my arms to pull me inside.

moment I said his name, my

eadbolts. She ran into her small bathroom and came back a second later with a big,

My wet jeans left a dark stain on the cushion, but Kiki didn't even look at

She blinked once, then twice, her mouth staying slightly open a

asked, her voice

ispered, staring

expression of intense disgust and horror. "Ar

neglecting him. She said I was dis

air and pacing furiously across her small rug. "I knew he was garbage! I told you six months ago he was too

quietly, looking a

You should have broken his nose! And your mother? She is

back of my head against the sofa cushions. "Every time a guy

pping her arm around me. "You are staying here. For as long as you need. We'll

l light fixture on her ceiling as fresh tears brimmed in my

ing her head. "We'll figure it out together. You

n finally settled into my chest. I was broke, exhausted, and homeless, but as I lay on Kiki