The Secret We Carry

ut she didn't bat an eyelash. It wasn't ap

ing, horns blaring, and children running towards the street without thoug

barked nearby. A voice screamed, at a cab that had parked on the street. Somewhere a window above the bakery tha

he furry head of the animal being washed down the drain, a teenage girl hiding an injury behind her sleeve, and an old man

fficer shift had been over twenty minutes ago, due to paper work and a disagreement with his supervisor

lp. So many fake smiles masking deeper wounds. And the politics? He didn't e

the coffee shop on the

hand, grocery bags hanging off her wrist. The world flowing by her like

d a magnetic draw to

ing up to her, without

ous, flashing a half smile - part charm,

, but not surprised. She squinted

he could hear sizzling on the griddle.

at her lips. "Maybe I

was

alle

sp

it at the time, bu

y. Some days, he went coffee at the corner just to catch a glimpse of her,

st, but when she did, she was intentional with her words. She usually lis

of his rookie years. Elena countered with her memories of her life in Michoacán-how she helped her mom fold laundry in their little

ent, but they me

w down to e

how confid

ushe

round

pride, trust-but there was always somethi

m above folding chairs. Paul's cousin DJ'd with a busted speaker, and Elena's mom paid for enough tamales that we could feed thr

t, he promised her everything - even all the t

dn't ha

e-bedroom

secondh

at made the

was e

their son, Steven,

ming, but the moment Elena held him for the first time, he went still.

hange Paul's worst days with a single giggle. Their apartment was filled with ba

e tired

ha

the

ity down, the horns sounded tired. Elena stood in the kitchen, humming a tune Paul di

aw it. A tall envelope, peeking out from under the welcome mat with no sta

tomac

e weight of it... familiar. The corners we

t open, han

nce glare

r. It's not over. This tim

as pounding

his voice to sound steady, "

said, not

letter deep in

ept, Paul stood by the window, clench

ong before he ever m

it wasn't ju

ming for