Bound by business, fueled by desire.

IAN

up from his bath nesting against me. I hug him closer with one arm, my other

underpaying part-time jobs for too long now, and I need something real, something more reliable, you know. Plus I've kind of grown tired of men

onstantly been avoiding, I don't feel comfortable with it. I don't feel comfortable with it at all. It'

y turbulent emotions. "It's not got to do with men, mama. I'm just tired. Th

h, I decide to turn the topic away from me entirely. "We've been talking about me s

et-together with our new neighbor, Asa, a lot more than I used to. Plus there's this new young Priest at the Church who's quite cute and all the young ladi

y don't remember her. I try to picture the house oppo

o make some of her country's

been doing since his death," the last part comes out with a strugg

is beautiful browns, his eyes wide, as they usually are, with

ft hands reach out slowly and enclasp my larger slender ones in his warm

forever, this feeling of my hand being held in his. He nods and lets go of my hand, then jumps off the bed, strutting towards his powder bl

my thoughts, in a strained voice which she tries to suppress by

ing to be fine. Maybe not on some days, but on others I will be. It won't always

was walking quickly towards me, trying his best and almost failing

M'ija. I love you

was now sitting against me, patiently waiting with hi

you," he says out loud, co

eep well, okay? And we'll talk about this blind date again, Luciana. Don't you forget," she sa

a "hmm" in acquiescence, alt

, mama. Sl

as enthusiastically as ever, while he bou

shies. We both lie down on the bed, with Rodrigo cuddling closer into my arms which I put around him. He gives me the book to begin r

r a night of bawling and tears?" I tease

ver a stupid little story," the little chipmunk says with

e story, you say? Okay then, mister. I

to make the story sound more interesting and dramatic by giving my voic

much," this part I said in a cleaner more melancholic to

t and quietly asks a question he never has b

ids have no tears is the author's attempt to point out how much more suffering mermaids have inside even when they're sad since they're unable to cry because they're surrounded by saltwater. So, you couldn't e

ods, "Yes, I would, mama. The mermaid not being able to cry

resting my chin on the top of h

*

drigo at school and stopped by the grocery store down the street on my way home to get a few things we

as I make my way to my still ringing device lying on the

adison c

al voice says exasperatedly, with her Irish accent becoming more pr

y, Maddy. I just had to drop Rodrigo off at school. And I might have forgotten

er. "You know how you've been looking for a mor

mall balcony in our living room which came with the apartment. I stand at the balcony, overlooking the almost empty s

etary position to Eamon MacCarthy, our Sales Manager. And I told him

ing and I started to panic, "Wait,

to get this job, you know. I'll be rooting for you. The boss just stepped in and everyone's trying to act more coordinated and all so I

d and full of anticipation and anxiety. I need to get dressed quickly and get a c

ough a million thoughts, with the most prominent