Breaking Through His Walls

and a file full of exes-I would've laughed in their face. But that morning, I wasn't thinking a

on the bed, my mind spinn

ew

ry, while keepin

everything I could-except right now,

nage b

o hope and desperately in

another kid just to sa

wo

haunts me eve

eak aloud. Not since the storm

use the restroom," his voice

lity and reached out

warned us: no stress, no exertion-not

said, fingers brush

gh? I can come in and hel

ides, I'm sixteen. I ca

ged to steady himself and

stroom door, slipping

terday came rushing in again. I hadn't e

've know

e early and find another job. One way or another, when the

ghs

d?" I called out, my

ust flew down my t

ther scare right now-especially not today.

door?" he fired back,

epping into the kitchen. "You're s

t. Thankfully, I had stocked

s loaded with vegetables, we rarely touched cereals anymore.

ears still tuned to the sound o

he emerged

d, eyeing the meal I'

Wait till you're fully recovered, t

keup-I preferred the natural look anyway. Ripped jeans, sn

er as I headed toward the door. "Call me in case of any emergen

out, his voic

ed, eyes still fixed on his phon

softly, then closed

a personal vendetta. My phone was nearly dead-again-and the paper where I scr

, I w

shinier, louder, and more... distant. I kept my head high even t

ave signs posted. They were "invite only" kinds of places. People walked past in crisp suits, si

nxious, and wearing hope like a

skyscraper that

rtin

r in my chest than on

y, the man with too many exes and not enough smiles. I'd read about him in passing

ed too tempting. Too

f I wa

I could take three full steps, the sleek black car p

t step

him, not right away.

calculated, his presence... chillingly composed. There was something

mselves in magazines. He looked like a man used to s

... he

eras, for business meetings. But even from acr

aze shifted

second. Two. But I swe

istant trailing behind, and just like that, he disappear

forced myself

just a

I would

-

rom O'Martin Tech,

ford distract

eard my

ag, my cracked phone s

alls. From an

ed again. My s

ered, my voice

ks?" The voice wa

who is

e in immediately. Your brother, Audrey Ma

hing s

member turn

emember ca

emembere

-

hospi

ing, brea

've stay

med m

to the

t received a call-my broth

oked up. "Au

d quickly, nea

tes ago. He's stable for now. A do

ered, dropping into

Restless.

sleep pull

ly half-aware of the shif

vanilla fil

ed slow

were

at

h

l and calm, casually scr

O'Ma

tin. Right here

slightly

not fazed by me. That's...

ond, a voice called

approached

eed surgery very soon, and we'll have to keep him u

p. I blinked t

see h

s. The nurse wil

ned to my seat, to

the man beside me spe

are yo

n't r

" he r

head slightl

the doctor. If it's a mone

Confused. W

I'm okay,"

I'd seen earlier-walked up and

a business card from his c

nge your mind. You'

n he wa