Page 4 of These Fractured Bonds

Theceilingrumbledasthe upstairs neighbor returned home. Yareli, already in bed, counted their steps until the sound of rushing water in the pipes blared. They had the same routine every weekday; it comforted her knowing that another person was alive, living their drab routine as she did. Although she had two roommates, they weren’t close. In fact, she hardly saw them anymore. Models at the same company, they had taken Yareli as a roommate to take care of the apartment while they were gone. It had been the quickest that her hopes of friendship had been extinguished. Her phone rang. She picked up without a second thought.

“Hello?”

“So, youarealive.” Her brother’s voice rang in her ear, reminding her of the two unopened texts she had from him.

Yareli cursed. She wasn’t avoiding her brother, not really, but she had forgotten he was impatient.

“Did you get my texts?”

She blanched. Fernando had always been straight to the point. “Yep. Sorry, I was busy today.”

The silence on the other line told her he didn’t believe her. There was an exhale.

“I stopped by the diner today.”

Hijo de su… Yareli's stomach dropped. “Did you?”

“Yeah, your piece of shit manager told me you don’t work there anymore. You got enough money for rent this month?”

Fernando’s concern both pleased and displeased her. It was nice to know he cared, but it was also a stark reminder of her failure. While Yareli had listened to their parents’ wishes—going to college even if she had no clue what she was doing—Fernando had resisted. He had dropped out of high school and picked up a job at a local mechanic’s shop, helping cover some of their bills. Since then, their parents’ quality of life had improved; their mom no longer had to work at the factory, and their dad was able to drop winter snow removal as one of his services. Yareli was supposed to be a role model, to show him that he didn’t have to worry about money, to focus on his education. But here he was, worrying about her too. He wasn’t even eighteen yet, and he was more adult than her.

“Don’t worry. I already found another job. My first day was today.”

“Where?”

“Just another cafe.” The lie rolled off her tongue, and she cringed.

Another long pause from Fernando.

“Alright. Let me know if you need any cash.”

“I have more than enough savings. No te preocupes. Tell Mom I’ll visit soon.” Yareli told him not to worry, but she knew hewould. That was the kind of heart he had—caring and self-sacrificing. It broke her own.

“A'ight. Good night then.” He hung up before she could say bye.

Gruff on the outside but sweet on the inside,she thought.

No longer sleepy, she sat up, drawing her knees to her chest. It hadn’t taken him long to find out; no matter how far she ran, her chain was locked in place. Her guilt tugged harder; her current life away from home was possible because of her family’s sacrifices, but here she was. Actively fighting to stay away. She rested her head on her knees.One problem at a time.One day, she’d repay her debts. Her phone buzzed again, and she groaned.Please don’t be Fernando.

It was August.

Did you get home safe?

A smile stole across her unwilling lips.

Yeah. Cya tomorrow.

Exhaling, Yareli flopped backward, landing on her much too lumpy mattress with a soft thump. August never failed to calm her, which was counterintuitive given the effect he had on her heart. The feeling was especially potent these days, considering he was increasingly absent and had missed a few weeks of their meetups. She settled in bed farther, shifting her blankets over her until she was nearly covered head-to-toe. Her phone vibrated again, and she scrambled to check the notification, only itwasFernando this time.

Double trouble.

She groaned, throwing her blanket over her head.Double troublewas their code word for when their parents fought. Funny how adulting worked—put out one fire only for another to spring up. A flower in a wildfire, it was a miracle she hadn’t gone up in flames yet. She shut her phone off. Family problems would have to wait; she had a coffee date tomorrow.

Chapter 2

Yareliarrivedatthecafe ten minutes early, but to her dismay, August was already seated with a coffee in his hand. He noticed her hovering at the entrance and waved.

She rolled her eyes. “At this point, you are one hundred percent doing this on purpose.”