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“Sarah” A droning, mild
ly interested voice broke through my conversation
I lifted rabbed my drink and warm chocolate croissant off the counter Even when I spelledI added three sugars and took a long whiff, closing lorious cup of coffee—still too hot to sip, da the lid back on
“If there’s anyone who could do it, it’s you” When I’d told hi school located two hours froe, I’d needed to throw his went to shit at home Mom and Dad, when they weren’t buried at the botto whatever hts on They couldn’t stop gahts Before I left for college, I’d tried to protect my little brother as much as I could, but I needed to keepto Philly for college
Growing up, I’d thought about running away from home more times than I could count, but I hadn’t wanted to leave Tyler behind My going away to college had hit him hard
It hit me harder
There had been soup with his with friends skipped to talk Tyler through ether as his states-away babysitter while everyone else was in the library studying or working on class projects
The guilt had nearly ended without, but he’d toldto college He squeezed ht at the curbside outside our house onthe sobs for once I turned the corner and his sure disappeared I couldn’t disappoint hie intensified his determination to leave
Within two uidance froorous entrance exaenerous financial aid package, a private boarding school wasn’t cheap, but this had all co My job offered me a salary, which barelyaround for so better Every penny, except for my rent, was squirreled away for Tyler’s education and maintenance
My phone pinged with the notification from Tyler’s school Someone in the financial aid office was up early The email came in from them The screen hite as the scan of the financial aid letter downloaded like it was running on dial-up
Taking my croissant and coffee, I balancedon my shoulder
I bumped the door open withsun It was still ware and yellow peeked from between some of the branches The crunchy fall leaves always made even a walk to my parents’ house muchout in the piles of leaves as a kid, not wanting to go ho planes pass overhead and wishing I’d get to fly in one so
Tyler’s excited chattering broke through my memory rabbit hole
“My cello teacher said he’d tutor o I love you, Z”
“Bye, Ty Be safe!”