Bound by Betrayal

ia's

limb-rent, utilities, fabric suppliers, equipment leases, and worst of all, Lily's mounting med school bills. I pushed my long black

ht," I whispered to

I drained my savings-my emergency fund si

h life, oblivious to my quiet collapse. Afternoon shadows stretched across the neighboring

es. My design label was buried in red. Next

. Taking a deep breath, I picked up

s the future D

fectly-small like me, but with our dads round face, reading glasses per

h it, Lil. Y

" She paused, her voice loweri

ing to sort out a few things.

e, if you are t

hough panic was budding in my chest. "Your job is to becom

t S

and Dad wanted

us; it had been five years since the accident tha

d back to that cold rainy night in the ho

xiǎo hǔ." Little t

. I hadn't known then how

ly's voice broke through the ha

I quickly changed the subje

. I hung up and stared at the spre

or slammed op

with more caffeine!" Elena Rodriguez said as she walked in, dres

than yesterday," she added, her d

grin. "Good to se

ward my phone and plopped down

three thousand for som

haped brows shot up

of it," I said, my hea

y computer screen. A frown crossed her

there was sarcasm, I could see genuine concern behin

kno

't been paid this month, let's not forget Lily wants m

ll me. "What am I supposed to do Elena? Tell Lily to drop

icing everything, your health, your savings, and possibly your sanity." Elena gestured around the small studi

cramped and grungy, but it was our true dream realized; a really working design studio, in Manhattan, making pieces that represe

ound," I said, though not not quite able to muste

d in her seat with excitement. "That's what I came to talk about!" She was g

e Quarterly?" My hear

ered talent' for their spring feature." Elena's smile

adsheet glowing accusingly on my screen made h

looking for the next big thing." She picked up a sketchbook from my desk and

ng a story. The collection was about strength in vulnerability, inspired

hat are you wearing tomorrow? Please

ong with m

a garment bag. "You're wearing this. The

a mandarin collar, side fastenings, geometr

at's for t

nd, Sophia. You need to look like it." Her tone left

s immovable when h

The blu

eyes. Got to show off those Chen ge

; the elites of New York fashion would be there along with potential investors

at," Elena

ha

smiled. "Keep that feeling. Tomorrow

putting the final touches on my portfolio for possible investors, an

yed behind, too wired to leave. The

ile. Tomorrow would be a new day.

p for the night, when my phone lit up

tification. The blue scr

fer that could change everything f