From Puppet Daughter to Powerhouse

shop, "The Daily G

and everyone was fueled

offee and maybe a plain

y order, trying to look like a

urn

bagel, please," I said to the barista, a guy

it up.

he one linked to the joint ac

wip

lin

ce we

machine, then back at me, a sm

I mumbled, my voic

d

lin

ng longer, a restless shuffl

g for cash, but I only had a

. Susan. It h

line last week, an indie band

es. Expensiv

arge, decided I was being

erred most of the funds to a part of the account

t be the

I stammered, feeling the we

perience I craved fel

rom behind me,

n get

urn

kind eyes, much like Kevin the barista, and a

ard, handed Kev

to mine," Lia

odded,

action we

e still shaky. "I'm so sorry. I

bbing his coffee. "Happens t

id, my cheeks

ice to meet you, Em

drink, and for a fleeting moment, t

ess, a normal

ngs could