Unexpected Inheritance
The Space
e's
hone rang, each chime tightening the knot in my chest. My palms were slick with sweat, hea
o give up, I heard he
el
k a breath, steadying the tremor in
g one. For a second, I t
oice layered with confusion and a hint of hur
y. I should have called- things-things got complicated. My mom called me back ho
at. I really am. But why didn't you tell me? You just vanished.
once, and I didn't handle it well. But I'm back now.
her
y. "But... I have something to t
tbeat f
" I said gently
le
ler
a soft thud. The ca
the address of a small café nearby. Please come. We need to talk
-
rie'
next
cheeks as I sat quietly in the café Jake had chosen. I had arrived early
oftly with quiet chatter and the clink of cutlery, but I barely heard any
I checked my phone again. N
g. Voicemail. Again. I left a message, trying to s
nto something more upbeat-cheerful, unbothered, almost mocking. I forced
like ash, each sip
of them were his. Eventually, I stopped pretending and ju
d out into the night, the cool breeze brushing my skin like a distant comfort. The scent of nig
lights of my apartment building finally came into
ff-not physically, but deep inside me. Like the earth had shif
nce wrapped around me like a cold sheet. I dropped my bag on t
coffee table,
eart racing. Jake.
acked with emotion-p
on the other e
one of my father. Concern layered
eath
pected-but maybe he was t